The Presidency on Tuesday uncovered aâcoordinated agendaâ among a group of United States lawmakers and lobbyists to manipulate U.S. President Donald Trump into sanctioning Nigeria by falsely branding it a country that persecutes religious minorities.
Presidential spokesperson, Dr. Daniel Bwala, who made the claim on Arise Newsâ Prime Time programme, said the campaign was built on âdisinformation and religious manipulationâ designed to destabilise the country and tarnish its international image.
According to him: âThere is a coordinated agenda against Nigeria. Those pushing this narrative are not in the executive branch of the U.S. government; they are a pack-backed group of senators hoping to rile up President Trump to designate Nigeria as a CPC. Knowing Trumpâs character, if he believed them, he would have done it three weeks ago”.
Bwala alleged that those driving the campaign were deliberately misrepresenting isolated cases of communal violence and terrorism to paint Nigeria as a country engaged in systematic religious persecution.
âReligion has always been the instrument. They are doing this to stir division, weaken Nigeriaâs image, and create panic internationally,â the presidential media aide stated.
Bwala maintained that the current agitation in Washington was politically motivated and not reflective of Nigeriaâs realities.
He said government would not engage in lobbying but would counter the misinformation with verifiable facts.
âWhat used to happen in Nigeria is that whenever this kind of false allegation comes, Nigerians will be looking to lobby in the U.S. No, you match up the Western disinformation,â he stated.
The Presidency has consistently dismissed allegations of state-sponsored persecution, arguing that insecurity in the country stems from terrorism, banditry, and criminality rather than religious discrimination.
Bwalaâs remarks came amid renewed international commentary on Nigeriaâs security situation, particularly in the North-Central region, where recent attacks by armed groups have led to scores of deaths and displacements.
The âCountry of Particular Concernâ (CPC) designationâcreated under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act of 1998âempowers Washington to impose sanctions on nations accused of âsystematic, ongoing, and egregious violationsâ of religious freedom.
Nigeria was first placed on the CPC list in 2020 during Trumpâs presidency, following lobbying by Christian advocacy groups citing terrorist attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP, and intercommunal clashes in the Middle Belt.
The designation was later lifted in 2021 by President Joe Biden, who cited improved government response to religious and ethnic violenceâa move that angered U.S. lawmakers such as Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, who have continued to demand its reinstatement.
Deji Elumoye
