“Don’t Turn Nigeria into Another Sudan” — Foreign Minister Tuggar Warns Trump

Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has issued a stern warning to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him not to destabilize the country with “false allegations of religious persecution.”

Speaking in Berlin on Tuesday, November 4, Tuggar cautioned that “careless remarks from influential global figures risk inflaming divisions across Africa.” He drew parallels with Sudan, noting how sectarian and ethnic manipulation there led to prolonged conflict and regional instability.

“We’ve seen what has happened in Sudan, with agitations for partitioning based on religion and tribal sentiments. You can see the crisis it caused,” Tuggar said.

The minister emphasized that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy committed to peace, unity, and religious freedom, directly challenging claims that the government supports persecution of Christians. Holding up official documents, he highlighted Nigeria’s legal framework protecting religious rights at every level of government.

“All the answers are in our Constitution and federal laws. It is impossible for any government authority—federal, regional, or local—to endorse faith-based persecution,” he stated.

Tuggar also reminded the international community of Nigeria’s democratic and regional significance. “Nigeria has a population of 230 million, making it the largest democracy and the largest country on the African continent. Countries like Nigeria are tasked with resolving such challenges, and we play a key role in the African Union’s Peace and Security Council,” he added.

The remarks came in response to escalating pressure from Trump, who recently accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christian communities from Islamist militants. Trump warned of potential U.S. military action and threatened to suspend aid if Nigeria did not act, calling the country “disgraced” and suggesting the use of force against what he described as “Islamic terrorists.”

In turn, the Nigerian government has firmly rejected allegations of a “Christian genocide” and opposed unilateral foreign military intervention. Officials stressed that the violence affects people of all faiths and emphasized that any international cooperation must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.