Nigeria’s National Secuity Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shaking hands in Washington, D.C.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the high-level Federal Government delegation to the United States (US) is intensely addressing misleading narratives suggesting religious persecution in Nigeria.
Idris disclosed this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, aired on Friday evening.
The delegation to the United States is being led by the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
The Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, in a statement issued in Abuja, quoted the minister to have said, “We are not leaving any space for misinformation to stand. Our officials are in Washington with facts, data, and a clear message, which is that there is no government-sponsored persecution of any religious group in Nigeria.”
The minister explained that the high-powered Nigerian delegation currently in the United States has met with the United States Secretary of War, members of the United States Congress, officials of the State Department, and other American stakeholders and has availed evidence-based information about Nigeria’s security challenges and provided detailed briefings on counter-terrorism operations, inter-agency security coordination, and efforts to protect all Nigerian citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
The engagements, the minister added, were crucial for correcting misconceptions that have been amplified during recent congressional discussions and advocacy campaigns.
“Our mission is simple. We are showing our partners the full context of the security situation, the steps the government is taking, and the fact that extremists have killed both Christians and Muslims. These narratives of genocide are not only incorrect, they are dangerous,” Idris also said.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu viewed the situation with utmost seriousness and has not only strengthened Nigeria’s internal security architecture but also expanded international cooperation to support counter-terrorism and intelligence operations.
The minister further said the mission of the delegation underscored the determination of the government of President Tinubu to defend Nigeria’s reputation and ensure that foreign partners anchor their decisions on verified information, not one-sided narratives.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s relationship with the United States remains strong and that these engagements demonstrate the openness of the Tinubu administration to dialogue, partnership, and transparency. He noted that more follow-up meetings are expected in the coming days as part of a structured government-wide response to the misinformation circulating about Nigeria’s security realities.
The minister urged Nigerians to remain calm and assured the public that the government will continue to confront insecurity while also engaging the international community to ensure that Nigeria is accurately represented on the global stage, the statement read.
