Tinubu Presidency to US: "Give Nigeria Military Support, Not Designation" — As Trump Warns of 'Existential Threat' to Christians

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the United States government to offer practical military support in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism instead of labeling the country or its armed groups with political or religious designations.

According to a statement from the Presidency, Nigeria’s security forces are already overstretched and require advanced equipment, real-time intelligence sharing, and elite training to effectively eliminate terrorist groups operating across the North-East, North-West, and Middle Belt regions.

> “What Nigeria needs from its allies, particularly the United States, is actionable support — not stigmatization,” a senior government official emphasized.

“Our nation is determined to end terrorism in all its forms, but labeling or isolating Nigeria will only embolden the enemy.”

The statement follows reports that the U.S. Congress is considering designating certain extremist groups in Nigeria as terrorist organizations, a move Abuja fears could harm regional cooperation and foreign investment.

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Donald Trump Weighs In: “Christianity Is Facing an Existential Threat in Nigeria”

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump has added his voice to the ongoing debate, describing Nigeria’s current state as “a tragedy of faith and leadership.”

In a recent statement, Trump called on the U.S. government to add Nigeria to the “Countries of Particular Concern” list for religious freedom violations, citing the widespread killing of Christians by extremist groups.

> “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,” Trump said. “Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter, and the world must not ignore it.”

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world.

Trump’s comments have stirred strong reactions in both Washington and Abuja. While many U.S. conservative groups praised his statement as a “wake-up call,” Nigerian officials warned that external labeling could worsen tensions and embolden extremist factions.

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President Tinubu’s administration insists that Nigeria’s partnership with the U.S. should focus on military technology transfer, intelligence collaboration, and counter-insurgency strategy, not punitive designations or sanctions.

Security analysts, however, note that the U.S. has historically used such designations to pressure governments into stronger human-rights enforcement, especially where religious persecution is alleged.

Despite the tension, recent developments show ongoing engagement between both nations. The U.S. recently approved a $346 million weapons sale to Nigeria aimed at bolstering counter-terrorism operations and border security.

As Nigeria battles insurgency, banditry, and religious extremism, the debate between support and sanction underscores a broader global dilemma:

how to fight terrorism while preserving human rights and national dignity.