JUST IN: President Tinubu Reacts to U.S. Designation of Nigeria as Religious-Freedom Violator

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected the United States’ decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom, describing the move as inaccurate and inconsistent with the nation’s constitutional values.

The U.S. government accused Nigeria of tolerating or failing to prevent severe violations of religious freedom, a claim the Nigerian authorities have consistently dismissed since it first emerged within American policy circles.

In a statement posted on his verified X account, @officialABAT, on Saturday, President Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria remains a pluralistic democracy that protects the rights of all religious groups.

“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. Since 2023, our administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu said.

He argued that the U.S. designation misrepresents the longstanding efforts of successive administrations, religious institutions, and community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse faith communities.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it consider the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and belief for all Nigerians,” the President stated.

Tinubu emphasized that religious harmony has been a defining feature of Nigeria’s nationhood and reaffirmed that the state neither promotes nor condones religious persecution.

“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” he added.

The President further noted that constitutional protections guarantee freedom for all citizens regardless of faith, pledging continued engagement with the international community, including the United States, to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation on protecting religious rights.

“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths,” he said.

This marks the second time in recent years that Nigeria has been placed on the CPC list, reigniting a debate that the Nigerian government has often described as politically motivated and inconsistent with realities on the ground in Africa’s most populous nation, where Christians and Muslims have coexisted for decades despite periodic security challenges.