ABUJA, Nigeria — Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has expressed concern over recent remarks by United States President Donald Trump accusing Nigeria of enabling attacks on Christians and listing the country as a “country of particular concern”.
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, November 2, 2025, Kwankwaso cautioned that Trump’s comments were troubling and risked inflaming tensions in a country already battling complex security challenges.
The former defence minister stressed that Nigeria’s security crisis affects citizens across religious, ethnic and political divides.
“It is important to emphasise that our country is a sovereign nation whose people face different threats from outlaws across the country,” he said.
“The insecurity we face does not distinguish based on religious, ethnic, or political beliefs.”
Trump’s comments, made on Friday, October 31, 2025, came as he accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities and warned that Washington would not “look the other way”.
The U.S. president suggested that punitive measures, including cutting off assistance and possible military action, were under consideration.
Kwankwaso urged the United States to adopt a collaborative approach, advising that American assistance through advanced security tools would better support Nigeria’s efforts to combat violent groups.
“The United States should assist the Nigerian authorities with better cutting-edge technology to tackle these problems, rather than posing a threat that could further polarise our country,” he said.
He also called on the federal government to deepen diplomatic engagement with Washington by appointing experienced envoys and strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic corps.
“The Nigerian government should also consider appointing special envoys from its distinguished diplomats to engage the American government,” he said.
“Additionally, it is necessary to appoint permanent ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests on the international stage.”
Addressing Nigerians, Kwankwaso urged calm and unity in response to external pressure.
“To my fellow countrymen, this is an important moment where we should emphasise unity of belonging over division,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu has already rejected Trump’s categorisation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern, insisting the nation remains committed to religious freedom and democratic values.
Tinubu said Nigeria is governed by constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion, maintaining that security challenges affect citizens regardless of creed.
