President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has firmly rejected the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians, describing the classification as inaccurate and misaligned with Nigeria’s constitutional values and lived realities.

The designation, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, accuses Nigeria of failing to prevent or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. However, Nigerian authorities have consistently dismissed such claims, arguing they oversimplify the country’s complex security challenges and misrepresent its pluralistic society.

In a statement posted on his verified X account (@officialABAT) on Saturday, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as a democracy rooted in constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.

“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu stated. “Since 2023, our administration has maintained open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.”

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He emphasized that the U.S. designation overlooks decades of effort by successive Nigerian governments, religious institutions, and community leaders to foster peaceful coexistence among the country’s diverse religious communities.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said. “Nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.”

The President reiterated that religious harmony is a foundational principle of Nigeria’s nationhood, asserting that the state neither promotes nor condones religious persecution.

“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it,” he affirmed.

Tinubu also expressed his administration’s commitment to working with international partners, including the United States, to promote mutual understanding and protect religious rights globally.

“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths,” he concluded.

This marks the second time Nigeria has been placed on the CPC list in recent years, reigniting debate over the accuracy and motivations behind such designations. Nigerian officials have often described the move as politically driven and inconsistent with the realities in Africa’s most populous nation, where Christians and Muslims have coexisted for generations despite intermittent security challenges.