President Bola Tinubu is expected to travel to the United States on Tuesday for high-level diplomatic talks amid escalating tensions following allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria and threats of US military intervention by President Donald Trump.
According to SaharaReporters, sources within the Nigerian presidency confirmed on Sunday that the President would depart Abuja for Washington to engage in crucial discussions with top American officials over security cooperation and human rights concerns.
The report further indicated that President Trump has delegated his Vice President, James David Vance, to meet with President Tinubu during the visit, barring any last-minute changes.
Earlier reports suggested that both leaders were considering a meeting either at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja or at the White House to bolster bilateral cooperation on counterterrorism and global peace.
Presidential Media Aide, Daniel Bwala, had in an earlier statement said President Tinubu and President Trump share "a common vision in combating terrorism and protecting humanity from violent extremism."
"Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have a shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity," Bwala stated, adding that the Trump administration had extended "significant support" to Nigeria’s defence sector through arms sales and intelligence sharing.
"President Trump has assisted Nigeria a lot by authorising the sale of arms to Nigeria, and President Tinubu has adequately utilised the opportunity in the fight against terrorism for which we have massive results to show," he said.
Bwala also stated that any perceived differences between the two leaders over the nature of terrorist attacks in Nigeria, whether they target Christians specifically or affect all faiths, would be discussed and clarified during the visit.
His comments came after President Trump, in a series of posts, accused the Nigerian government of allowing the "killing of Christians" and threatened to cut aid and deploy US troops to "wipe out Islamic terrorists" allegedly responsible for the atrocities.
"If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing'," Trump had said.
He also claimed to have instructed the US Department of War to "prepare for possible action," saying that if an attack occurred, "it will be fast, vicious, and sweet."
In response, the Nigerian Presidency dismissed the genocide allegations as unfounded, reiterating that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equality for all citizens.
"Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty," President Tinubu said in a statement on Saturday.
He insisted that since assuming office in 2023, his administration has maintained consistent engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders to address security challenges affecting citizens across different regions and faiths.
"The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality," Tinubu said, describing the claims as a misrepresentation of the country’s diversity and ongoing peacebuilding efforts.
He maintained that religious tolerance remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national identity. "Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so," he affirmed.
Tinubu further stressed his government’s commitment to working with the United States and other international partners to strengthen understanding and safeguard communities of all faiths.
"Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen cooperation on the protection of communities of all faiths," the President added.
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