…as 31 US lawmakers back Trump

By Sodiq Adelakun

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured the United States that his administration will defeat terrorism in Nigeria, despite political challenges and public concerns.

Speaking shortly after swearing in two new ministers at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu said the government remains committed to engaging international partners and advancing national security.

“The most important thing is that, despite the political headwind and the fear of our people, we will continue to engage with our partners. The success of the 2.3 billion bond oversubscription is proof of growing confidence,” he stated.

He added: “The task ahead is immense. We are engaging the world diplomatically, and we assure all of you that we will defeat terrorism in the country. We are resolved to move forward with unity and purpose, guided by renewed hope and an agenda to build a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Nigeria.”

Briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting,
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said the government is responding to the “genuine concerns” raised by the US while maintaining Nigeria’s dignity and stability.

“Yes, indeed, that came up during deliberations at the Federal Executive Council meeting. The government of Nigeria is responding to the genuine concerns raised. The politics of it aside, we genuinely are taking the issues seriously,” Idris said.

He emphasised that the Tinubu administration is addressing security and religious freedom matters responsibly. 

“Let me say that the government of Nigeria is really very stable. The President is calm, and the Federal Executive Council members are indeed very calm. Are there issues of security in this country? Yes. Are people being killed in parts of this country? Yes. But is the government doing anything to checkmate that? Yes, indeed,” he added.

Idris highlighted that terrorism and violent extremism are global problems requiring international cooperation. “We have porous borders, and that is why we have cooperation with our regional partners and international partners, including the United States. Channels have been opened. We prefer that this situation is being solved diplomatically,” he said.

The minister reiterated Nigeria’s status as a country of religious tolerance, assuring citizens and the international community that the government is committed to protecting the constitutional right to worship freely. 

“The killing of even one Nigerian citizen is of concern to the government of Nigeria. Our constitution guarantees the right of everyone to worship his or her religion without hindrance. The government of Nigeria is committed to that and will continue to do so,” Idris said.

He added that the government is responding “responsibly, steadily, and in the interest of our country” while safeguarding national peace and dignity.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, reported that Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, marking the highest quarterly figure in a decade outside the post-COVID period.

The ministers sworn in were Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, from Enugu State, and Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro from Plateau State. Dr. Udeh, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State, replaced Chief Uche Nnaji, who resigned over alleged certificate forgery. Dr. Doro succeeded Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the current APC national chairman.

The brief ceremony followed a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the president. The council also observed a minute’s silence in honour of Senator Solomon Ewuga, former Minister of State for the FCT, and General Mohammed Abdullahi, ex-military governor of Benue Plateau State and first Director-General of the Nigerian Security Organization.

Meanwhile, Thirty-one members of the United States Congress have endorsed President Donald Trump’s decision to classify Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious persecution, calling it a “sign of hope” for millions of Christians facing attacks.

The move was praised by key lawmakers, including Rep. Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, who described the reinstatement of the CPC status as “a powerful step forward in holding the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in the unchecked murder, rape, and torture of Christians.”

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer commended Trump, saying: “God bless President Trump for standing up and protecting Christians around the globe. The United States finally has a leader unafraid to do what’s right.”

GOP Chair Lisa McClain called the situation in Nigeria “a moral outrage and a crime against humanity,” while Representatives Josh Brecheen, Mary Miller, and Mark Alford supported sanctions and stronger international measures to stop the killings.

Other lawmakers, including Don Bacon, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, and Tim Walberg, urged Washington to deploy “every diplomatic and strategic tool” to protect Nigerian Christians and ensure accountability. 

They stressed that the CPC designation should be followed by concrete steps to safeguard vulnerable communities and punish perpetrators.

International human rights groups, including the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have repeatedly raised concerns over attacks targeting Christian communities in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt, citing recurring violence from armed groups, bandits, extremists, and tensions between herders and farmers