President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to hold talks with United States President Donald Trump in the coming days as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation on global security and the fight against terrorism, a senior aide has hinted.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying both leaders share a firm resolve to tackle insurgency and violent extremism.
Bwala noted that Trump had, during his tenure, approved the sale of arms to Nigeria to enhance counter-terrorism operations — a move he said President Tinubu has since built upon with “visible and commendable outcomes.”
Read Also: Mother of all Betrayals: MURIC Exposes Who ‘Betrayed’ Tinubu To Trump
The comments followed Trump’s post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, in which he claimed Christianity in Nigeria faces an existential threat and designated the country a Country of Particular Concern over alleged targeted attacks on Christians.
Responding on his X handle, Bwala said any differences in perspective on whether terror attacks in Nigeria are religiously targeted or indiscriminately affect citizens of all faiths “will be clarified when both leaders meet,” whether in Abuja or Washington.
He expressed confidence that the anticipated discussions would “strengthen collaboration in the global fight against terrorism,” tagging global and local media outlets including CNN, Fox News, BBC World, Sky News, ARISE News and Channels Television.
The development comes as President Tinubu, in a separate statement on Saturday, rejected what he described as a mischaracterisation of Nigeria’s religious environment, insisting Nigeria “stands firmly” as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
He noted that since 2023, his administration has sustained “open and constructive engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders” and is committed to protecting worshippers of all faiths.
“The portrayal of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said, stressing that while security challenges persist, they affect citizens irrespective of belief and remain a key focus of government action.
He reaffirmed religious tolerance as “foundational to Nigeria’s identity” and vowed that “government will not condone any act that undermines the rights and freedoms of our citizens.”
Tinubu also signalled readiness to work with Washington and global partners “to deepen dialogue, improve understanding, and strengthen cooperation in protecting religious communities nationwide.”
