Nigeria Condemns Exclusion from UN Nicki Minaj Event, Says U.S. Is “Shaving Our Head in Our Absence”

Nigeria on Tuesday criticised the United States for excluding it from a United Nations event featuring U.S. rapper Nicki Minaj, which focused on alleged killings of Nigerians belonging to a specific religious group.

Syndoph Endoni, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires at the Permanent Mission to the UN, said the decision to bar Nigeria from participating in the discussion — held at the UN headquarters in New York — was akin to “shaving our head in our absence.”

The event, organised in partnership with the U.S. Mission to the UN, was convened against the backdrop of U.S. accusations of Christian persecution in Nigeria. Washington, under President Donald Trump, had recently classified Nigeria as “a Country of Particular Concern” over alleged “Christian genocide.”

Endoni firmly rejected the accusations, saying Nigeria has consistently denied claims of genocide against Christians.
“It is important to ensure the country concerned in the ongoing allegations of genocide against Christians is present, aware, and has a voice in the matter,” he said. “You should not make important decisions or take action on something that involves a country without their presence or consent.”

He argued that the U.S. decision deprived Nigeria of the opportunity to present its own position. The envoy also questioned why only a small number of countries were included while Nigeria — the nation at the centre of the accusations — was sidelined.

“We asked the U.S. authorities if it was okay to continue to shave someone’s hair in his absence,” Endoni said, adding that the Nigerian government is actively addressing security challenges and not “standing idly by.”

He stressed that Nigeria and the U.S. could better tackle insecurity if they worked collaboratively and called for inclusive engagement to avoid escalating tensions over claims of religious persecution.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), U.S. Senior Advisor for African Affairs, Amb. Patricia Mahoney, visited the Nigeria House in New York on Monday to brief Endoni about the Minaj event. She explained that three UN member states and a Nigerian pastor were invited — but no Nigerian government officials — and described the gathering as a private event.

NAN also reports that the exclusion was based on concerns from participants who feared potential retribution for themselves and their families if Nigerian officials were present.

Despite the snub, Endoni said Nigeria would continue dialogue with the U.S. regarding extremist killings and work together to safeguard lives and property.

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