Nigeria’s presidency has reacted with composure and defiance following threats of possible U.S. military action issued by former American President Donald Trump. The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said President Bola Tinubu remains calm, focused, and unwavering in his commitment to national security and religious harmony.
Addressing journalists after a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Minister Idris assured Nigerians that the President is not rattled by the remarks credited to Trump but is instead concentrating on reinforcing Nigeria’s internal and international security posture.
“Mr. President is calm. He is looking at the whole situation; he is looking at the ways and means of ensuring that the international community understands what we have been doing,” Idris said.
The statement follows heightened tension after the United States reinstated Nigeria on its list of Countries of Particular Concern over alleged religious-freedom violations, a move that reportedly prompted Trump’s controversial comments.
But Idris dismissed the allegations as completely false, insisting that Nigeria remains one of the most religiously tolerant nations in Africa. He argued that the narrative portraying the country as unsafe for certain religious groups is being pushed by extremists bent on sowing division among Nigerians.
“For us to be characterized as a country that is not tolerant when it comes to religion, is not accurate. This is absolutely false,” he said. “Our constitution guarantees every citizen the right to practice their faith without ledge or hindrance.”
The Minister also pointed to recent sweeping changes within the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the appointment of a new Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs, as proof of Tinubu’s assiduous work to revamp the nation’s security architecture.
“The President is committed to making Nigeria safer for everyone, regardless of tribe or religion,” Idris emphasized.
He urged Nigerians to stay united and resist divisive rhetoric, calling this moment one that demands collective focus on peace and development rather than political or religious polarization.
“This is not a time for division; it is not a time for rhetoric. It is a time for nation-building,” the Minister concluded.
With Tinubu’s government standing firm amid growing international scrutiny, all eyes are now on how Nigeria navigates this delicate diplomatic storm, one that could test the resilience of both its leadership and its people.
