President Bola Tinubu is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss allegations of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, as well as strengthen cooperation between both nations in counterterrorism efforts.
The planned meeting was disclosed on Saturday, November 1, by Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication.
According to him, the talks will help correct what he described as “misconceptions” surrounding terrorist attacks in Nigeria and their religious dimensions.
Bwala, in a post on X, wrote, “Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interests in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity.
“President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms, and President Tinubu has adequately utilised that opportunity in the fight against terrorism, with massive results to show for it.
“As for the differences as to whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths, those would be discussed and resolved by the two leaders when they meet in the coming days, either in the State House or White House.”
Trump’s position followed rising pressure from US lawmakers who claim Christians in Nigeria are being systematically targeted.
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Congressman Riley Moore and other Republicans have urged the US State Department to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to reported mass killings of Christians.
On Friday, Trump declared Nigeria such a country in a post on Truth Social, alleging that “Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”
He called on the US Congress to investigate and ensure immediate intervention, insisting that “something must be done.”
Trump later hinted at possible military action, warning that if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians,” the United States could halt all aid and “go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing.”
The Tinubu administration, however, maintains that terrorism in Nigeria is not faith-based, describing the violence as a mix of banditry, insurgency, and criminality affecting all communities.
The Presidency said the upcoming meeting seeks to clarify these issues and reinforce Nigeria’s counterterrorism partnership with Washington.