United States President Donald Trump has once again placed Nigeria on the list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) over what he described as ongoing persecution and mass killings of Christians.
The fresh designation comes just three months after Washington imposed new visa restrictions on Nigerians, limiting most travel permits to single-entry, three-month validity.
Announcing the decision on Friday via his Truth Social platform — and reposted on the official White House X handle — Trump warned that Christianity in Nigeria was facing an “existential threat.”
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” the U.S. President wrote.
“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done!”He directed Congressman Riley Moore and Chairman Tom Cole of the House Appropriations Committee to immediately investigate the alleged killings and report back to him.“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save our great Christian population around the world,” he wrote.
Trump renews old chargeThe move rekindles a storm that first erupted in December 2020, when Trump, in his first term, designated Nigeria as a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998.The listing, which cited “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom,” was later reversed by the former President Joe Biden in November 2021.Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken had argued that while Nigeria faced severe security challenges, the government was not “directly engaged” in religious persecution.
By reintroducing the tag, Trump’s government is effectively declaring that the situation has worsened, and that the Federal Government has failed to act decisively to stop violence targeting Christians and minority faiths.According to the US Department of State, the Country of Particular Concern designation is applied to nations that engage in or tolerate “particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”Such violations include torture, prolonged detention, enforced disappearance, or denial of life and liberty on religious grounds.
The CPC label empowers the US President to apply or waive punitive measures, including sanctions, diplomatic isolation, or withdrawal of aid, depending on strategic or humanitarian considerations.Currently, countries such as China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Eritrea are also listed.While the designation is primarily symbolic, it carries reputational and economic consequences.Analysts say it can affect Nigeria’s investment attractiveness, bilateral defence partnerships, and access to certain aid programs.”
