Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has called on the Federal Government to engage experienced diplomats to defend Nigeria’s image following comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump designating the country as a “country of particular concern.”
Trump, in a post shared on his Truth Social platform and the White House’s X handle on Friday, alleged that Christians were being massacred in Nigeria, describing the situation as “a genocide.”
Reacting in a statement on Saturday, Ndume said Nigeria must act swiftly to counter the narrative by deploying respected diplomats and credible international figures to engage the U.S. government and global audience.
“Before things get out of hand, Nigeria should engage seasoned diplomats like Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Babagana Kingibe, Professor Sulu Gambari, and Amina Mohammed of the United Nations,” Ndume said.
He urged the Federal Government to liaise with the American Embassy in Abuja to present accurate information about Nigeria’s security situation.
“We can change the narrative by ensuring that Nigeria is not tagged a ‘country of particular concern’ but rather a ‘country of special concern,’ to attract more support, including arms and ammunition, for the fight against terrorism,” he added.
Ndume criticised the Bola Tinubu administration and the Senate for failing to respond promptly to earlier warnings from U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore regarding Nigeria’s security image.
He said the government must engage Washington with factual data showing that terrorist attacks in the country affect both Muslims and Christians.
“I have alerted the government and even moved a motion. Nigeria is a sovereign state,” Ndume said. “It’s not about what the United States can do to us, but about the misconception and ripple effects of classifying us as a country of concern. Muslims have been killed too. The genocide isn’t against Christians but Nigerians generally.”
