Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is set to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump “in the coming days,” announced Daniel Bwala, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication. The talks, possibly at Aso Rock or the White House, aim to address Trump’s recent claim that violence against Christians in Nigeria constitutes a “genocide,” while emphasizing shared interests in combating terrorism. Bwala noted past U.S. support under Trump, including arms sales, has been used effectively by the Tinubu administration.
The meeting follows Trump’s November 1, 2025, redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom violations, coupled with threats of military action and aid cuts. U.S. officials, including Rep. Riley Moore and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have reinforced these warnings. Nigeria has firmly rejected the characterization, with Tinubu affirming constitutional protections for all faiths and government officials dismissing U.S. claims as inaccurate, though some local groups welcomed the scrutiny.
Debate over the issue has surged on social media and in traditional outlets, with historical parallels drawn to Trump’s 2018 engagement with former President Buhari and his 2020 CPC designation. Nigerian authorities insist the violence stems from broader insurgency and banditry, not a targeted religious campaign, while independent reports confirm thousands of deaths, including Christians in some regions. No date has been set for the meeting, but diplomatic tensions are rising rapidly.