By our reporter 22.12.2025
Nigeria’s Minister of Information Mohammad Idris said the recent diplomatic spat between Nigeria and the United States over allegations of “Christian genocide” has been resolved.
President Donald Trump threatened military intervention over the alleged killing of Christians.
The diplomatic offensive was welcomed by some as the President Bola Tinubu’s government vehemently denied there was massive killing and destruction of Christian churches.
“The recent diplomatic spat with the United States has been largely resolved through a firm, respectful engagement culminating in a strengthened partnership between America and Nigeria,” Mr. Mohammed Idris, said on Monday in Abuja.
Nigeria’s government and independent analysts reject framing the country’s violence in terms of religious persecution – a narrative long used by the Christian right in the United States and Europe as well as Nigerian separatists, who maintain a lobbying presence in Washington.
However, Nigeria remains on Washington’s list of countries of “particular concern” regarding alleged religious freedom violations.
And last week, Nigeria was among the countries hit by visa and immigration restrictions laid out by the Trump administration.
But there appear to be signs of increasing security cooperation: analysts have also been tracking and uptick US reconnaissance flights over known militant strongholds.
The country’s multiple armed conflicts are complex and kill both Muslim and Christian civilians, often without distinction.
Nigeria faces a long-running conflict in its northeast as well as armed “bandit” gangs which loot villages and conduct kidnappings for ransom in the northwest.
Speaking to reporters, Idris also defended a recent aid deal which will see Washington contribute $2.1 billion, with what the State Department characterised as “a strong emphasis on promoting Christian faith-based health care providers.”
“Every Nigerian is going to be a beneficiary of this arrangement,” Idris said.