Details of a high-level meeting between the United States and the Federal Government over Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, have emerged.
US President Donald Trump has designated Nigeria as a CPC
over alleged violations of religious freedom, especially against Christians.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday after the meeting,
the Nigerian and US governments said the first session of the US-Nigeria Joint
Working Group was held in Abuja on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
The Working Group was set up after Trump designated Nigeria
a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act.
According to the statement, the Working Group aims to
“reduce violence against vulnerable groups in Nigeria, particularly Christians,
and to create a conducive atmosphere for all Nigerians to freely practice their
faith unimpeded by terrorists, separatists, bandits, and criminal militias”.
Nigeria’s delegation was led by the National Security
Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and included representatives of 10 ministries and
agencies, while the US team was headed by Under Secretary of State Allison
Hooker, alongside officials from eight federal agencies.
The two sides held what they described as “strategic
discussions” on how deeper US-Nigeria cooperation could improve religious
freedom and strengthen security nationwide”.
They also reaffirmed the long-standing bilateral
relationship between both countries, which they said is “grounded in shared
values of pluralism, respect for the rule of law, and sovereignty”.
The US delegation welcomed Nigeria’s recent steps to tackle
insecurity, particularly in the North-Central states, where attacks on farming
and Christian communities have been frequent.
Both governments, the statement said, reiterated their
“strong and unflinching commitment to upholding the principles of religious
freedom” and agreed on the need for “joint, active, and sustained measures to
promote and protect freedom of religion or belief for all, in line with the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Participants further stressed the need to protect civilians,
“particularly members of vulnerable Christian communities,” while ensuring that
perpetrators of violence are held accountable.
On security cooperation, both sides agreed to strengthen
counter-terrorism efforts through “operational cooperation, access to
technology, anti-money laundering measures, countering the financing of
terrorism, and building law enforcement and investigative capacity”.
The US delegation also commended Nigeria for what it
described as “urgent actions to strengthen security for at-risk Christian
communities and Nigerians of all faiths whose safety is threatened by violence
and terrorism”.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Joint Working
Group would be held in the United States at a date to be determined through
diplomatic channels.
Recall that on October 31, US President Donald Trump
designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, citing allegations of
widespread violence and what some advocacy groups describe as a “Christian
genocide” in parts of the country.
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