U.S. President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern following mounting allegations of religious persecution and government inaction.
The announcement came on October 31, 2025, through a White House statement citing continuous violations of religious freedom across Nigeria. Trump emphasized that extremist violence against Christians and other minority groups had reached “unacceptable and alarming levels.”
According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Nigeria failed to protect citizens from faith-based violence and discriminatory laws.
The commission noted that blasphemy laws in northern states and frequent sectarian attacks undermine fundamental human rights. Before the declaration, U.S. senators, including Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, urged the administration to take decisive action.
The Nigerian government swiftly rejected the classification, describing it as “misguided and unfair.” Officials claimed that the country’s security crisis stems from terrorism and banditry rather than deliberate religious oppression.
However, international observers argued that consistent patterns of bias and delayed responses to church attacks supported the U.S. findings.
Human rights experts said the move could affect bilateral relations and foreign aid. They also warned that the Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern designation may lead to targeted sanctions if no reforms follow.
Meanwhile, Christian groups in the U.S. and Nigeria welcomed the decision, saying it could pressure authorities to take religious violence seriously.
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As global attention focuses on Nigeria’s human rights record, calls for genuine reform are growing louder. Analysts believe this development could reshape U.S. engagement with Africa’s largest democracy in the coming months.
