The Nigerian Presidency has accused a group of United States lawmakers and lobbyists of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to pressure President Donald Trump into sanctioning Nigeria by falsely portraying the country as one that persecutes religious minorities.
Presidential spokesperson Dr. Daniel Bwala made the allegation during an appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time on Tuesday, describing the campaign as a “calculated attempt built on disinformation and religious manipulation” aimed at destabilising Nigeria and tarnishing its global image.
“There is a coordinated agenda against Nigeria. Those pushing this narrative are not part of the U.S. executive branch — they’re a pack-backed group of senators trying to rile up President Trump to designate Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC),” Bwala said.
“Knowing Trump’s temperament, if he believed them, he would have done it three weeks ago.”
‘Religious Manipulation’ and Political Motives
Bwala alleged that the group behind the campaign is deliberately twisting isolated incidents of communal violence and terrorism to suggest a pattern of systematic religious persecution in Nigeria.
“Religion has always been the instrument,” he said. “They are exploiting it to divide Nigerians, weaken our image, and create panic in the international community.”
The presidential aide stressed that the agitation in Washington was politically motivated and did not reflect the true situation in Nigeria. He added that the federal government would not resort to lobbying but would instead confront what he called “Western disinformation” with verifiable facts.
“In the past, Nigeria would rush to lobby whenever these false allegations emerged,” Bwala said. “Not anymore — we will counter lies with evidence.”
Nigeria Rejects Allegations of Religious Persecution
The Presidency has repeatedly dismissed claims of state-sponsored persecution, insisting that the nation’s security challenges are driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminality rather than religious discrimination.
Bwala’s comments come amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security situation, especially in the North-Central region, where recent attacks by armed groups have left dozens dead and displaced thousands.
Under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) designation allows Washington to impose sanctions on nations accused of “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of religious freedom.
Nigeria was first placed on the CPC list in 2020 during Trump’s presidency, following lobbying by Christian advocacy groups who cited terrorist attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and intercommunal violence in the Middle Belt.
However, the designation was lifted in 2021 by President Joe Biden, who cited improvements in Nigeria’s response to religious and ethnic conflicts — a decision that drew criticism from Republican senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, who have since renewed calls for Nigeria’s reinstatement on the list.
Bwala maintained that Nigeria would not allow foreign interests to define its narrative or weaponize religion for political ends.
“We are aware of the agenda, and Nigeria will not be blackmailed,” he said. “Our government will continue to engage transparently, defend the truth, and protect our sovereignty.”
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