Trump’s threats to Nigeria are reckless, infantilising and dangerous, by Halimah Nuhu Sanda

Trump’s threats to Nigeria are reckless, infantilising and dangerous, by Halimah Nuhu Sanda

In the past few days, the world has once again witnessed the recklessness that has come to define President Donald Trump’s approach to foreign relations. On October 31, 2025, his administration placed Nigeria on the United States’ list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” alleging severe violations of religious freedom. Barely 24 hours later, he went further, threatening to cut all aid and assistance to Nigeria and even hinted at possible military action if the Nigerian government failed to stop what he called “the killing of Christians.”

This sequence of events is disturbing not only for its tone but also for its ignorance of Nigeria’s complex social realities. It is one thing to express concern about human rights, but it is another to distort facts and issue threats to a sovereign country. Nigeria’s issues are not religious; they are social, economic, and structural. The violence that has afflicted parts of our nation affects Christians and Muslims alike. To isolate it as an anti-Christian campaign is not only false but dangerously simplistic.

The truth is there is no policy of persecution in Nigeria. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Nigerians of all faiths live, work, and worship together. In the North, there are Christians in every community. In the South, there are Muslims in every city. We intermarry, trade, and build together. To suggest that one group is being systematically targeted by the Nigerian state is a blatant misrepresentation of facts. It undermines the collective suffering of all Nigerians who have fallen victims to violence, regardless of their faith.

President Trump’s language was not just reckless; it was inflammatory. To threaten another country with military action and to speak of Nigeria in such contemptuous terms betrays a complete lack of diplomatic discipline. No responsible leader should speak like that about a partner nation. His words sounded less like the considered statement of a statesman and more like the outburst of an angry child who believes shouting will solve everything.

For many Nigerians, this latest episode is not surprising. Trump’s first term in office was marked by similar disregard for international norms. His administration imposed travel bans that included Nigeria, halted many cooperative development programmes, and disrupted the activities of USAID, the very agency through which the U.S. channels most of its humanitarian assistance. In January 2025, he again suspended several USAID operations under the guise of an aid review. So, when he now threatens to cut all aid to Nigeria, one must ask: which aid exactly is he referring to? If the programmes were already paused by his own order, then this threat is hollow, more political than practical.

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It is important to recall that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has been one of the few African diplomats who have spoken firmly and clearly about Nigeria’s right to make independent decisions. When he declared months ago that Nigeria would not accept deportees from the United States without due process, his words carried the weight of sovereignty. Many observers now believe that Trump’s recent hostility is partly a reaction to that boldness. Nigeria has refused to be bullied, and that seems to irritate a man who thrives on intimidation.

But Nigeria must not respond in anger. We must respond with maturity. The Nigerian government has rightly rejected the claim that our nation is intolerant of Christians. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ambassador Tuggar have restated Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith. The Foreign Ministry’s response was measured and diplomatic, reminding the world that Nigeria’s conflicts are rooted in terrorism, poverty, and competition for resources, not religion. That is the truth.

The real tragedy in all of this is that the U.S. president has chosen to exploit a complex humanitarian issue for political theatre. By framing Nigeria’s struggles in religious terms, he fuels division, encourages extremists, and undermines efforts toward peace. Violence in Nigeria has never respected religion. Boko Haram, ISWAP, and bandit groups have killed both Muslims and Christians. Villages have been attacked not because of what people believe but because of where they live or how vulnerable they are. To suggest that Nigeria’s government condones or promotes such acts is a grave insult to the thousands of Nigerian security personnel who have died fighting these same terrorists.

The tone of Trump’s statement also reeks of arrogance. To threaten a proud African nation with invasion in the twenty-first century is beyond comprehension. Nigeria is not a colony. It is a democratic nation with institutions, laws, and a vibrant civil society. It may have its challenges, but it has earned its place as Africa’s largest democracy and a regional leader in peacekeeping and mediation. For the leader of another country to talk about “going in guns blazing,” as Trump reportedly said, is not only undiplomatic but dangerously provocative.

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The United States has long presented itself as a friend of Nigeria, but friendship must be based on mutual respect. True partnership is built through dialogue, not threats. If the American government truly cares about Nigerian lives, then it should support initiatives that strengthen our economy, promote education, and improve security cooperation in ways that respect Nigeria’s sovereignty. Empty threats and public humiliation will achieve nothing but resentment.

This latest episode should serve as a reminder to Nigerians that our destiny cannot depend on foreign validation. We must define our narrative, own our struggles, and find our solutions. Outsiders will always interpret our story through the lens of their own interests. Today it is religious freedom; tomorrow it may be something else. The real question is: how long will we let others misrepresent who we are?

Nigeria is far from perfect, but we are not what Trump describes. We are a resilient people, diverse yet united by shared hopes. The world must understand that our challenges are not born of intolerance but of inequality, governance failures, and economic strain. Reducing them to religion is an insult to both Christians and Muslims who have worked together for peace and progress.

Donald Trump’s comments are beneath the dignity of his office. They do not reflect the spirit of cooperation that has defined U.S.–Nigeria relations for decades. His words were reckless, unfounded, and unbecoming of a leader who claims to value global stability. Nigeria will not be intimidated by bluster. We remain open to engagement, but we will not tolerate disrespect.

History will remember this moment not for his threats but for how Nigeria stood firm in the face of them. Ours is a nation that has weathered greater storms. This, too, will pass. And when it does, the world will remember that Nigeria did not bow, did not panic, and did not lose its composure. We met arrogance with dignity, provocation with restraint, and lies with truth. That is the Nigerian way.

 

Trump’s threats to Nigeria are reckless, infantilising and dangerous, by Halimah Nuhu Sanda