Presidency Accuses U.S. Lawmakers for Anti-Nigeria Disinformation Over Genocide Claims

The Presidency has accused a group of U.S. lawmakers and lobbyists of orchestrating a coordinated misinformation campaign to pressure U.S. President Donald Trump into sanctioning Nigeria under false allegations of religious persecution.

Presidential spokesperson Daniel Bwala made the allegation on Tuesday during an interview on Arise News’ Prime Time, describing the move as a “deliberate disinformation strategy” designed to destabilise Nigeria and damage its international reputation.

“There is a coordinated agenda against Nigeria,” Bwala said. “Those pushing this narrative are not in the executive branch of the U.S. government; they are a PAC-backed group of senators hoping to rile up President Trump to designate Nigeria as a CPC. Knowing Trump’s character, if he believed them, he would have done it three weeks ago.”

The Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation allows the U.S. government to impose sanctions on nations accused of “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of religious freedom.

Nigeria was previously listed as a CPC in 2020 during Trump’s presidency but was removed in 2021 by President Joe Biden.

Bwala accused the U.S. lawmakers of manipulating reports of terrorism and communal clashes to falsely depict Nigeria as a nation that persecutes Christians.

“Religion has always been the instrument. They are doing this to stir division, weaken Nigeria’s image, and create panic internationally,” he said.

He stressed that the agitation in Washington was politically driven and detached from Nigeria’s realities, noting that the government would respond with facts and evidence, not lobbying.

“What used to happen in Nigeria is that whenever this kind of false allegation comes, Nigerians would rush to lobby in the U.S. No — this time, you counter the Western disinformation with verifiable facts,” Bwala added.

The Presidency reiterated that Nigeria’s security challenges stem from terrorism, banditry, and criminality, not religious persecution, dismissing the allegations as an attempt to misrepresent domestic conflicts and undermine national unity.

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