Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. Credit: X/@FMINONigeria
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians and the international community that the country will come out stronger in the wake of threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. Tinubu, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, is handling the matter with “calm, seriousness, and strategic depth.”
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after a briefing with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Idris said the Nigerian government has adopted a multi-layered approach to addressing Washington’s concerns — one that prioritizes diplomacy, transparency, and constructive engagement.
> “Of course, the issue of the U.S. threats came up, and we discussed that extensively with Mr President,” Idris revealed. “He is calm and looking for ways to ensure that the international community understands what Nigeria has been doing.”
The minister explained that the Tinubu administration had already taken significant steps to strengthen national security and religious harmony long before the recent U.S. concerns.
> “Only two weeks ago, Mr President reinvigorated the hierarchy of the Armed Forces with the appointment of new service chiefs. These were steps already taken before the U.S. concerns, showing that he has been working assiduously to keep Nigeria safer for all,” he added.
According to Idris, the Federal Government is actively engaging global partners and international organizations to clarify ongoing reforms and dispel misconceptions about religious intolerance in Nigeria.
He noted that President Tinubu has intensified meetings with Christian and Muslim leaders across the country to reinforce unity and promote peaceful coexistence.
> “It is a multiple approach. Mr President has been meeting with religious leaders and will continue to do so because they are important stakeholders in the Nigerian project,” he said.
Idris further emphasized that the administration remains committed to eliminating extremist elements and ensuring that Nigeria is not defined by the actions of a few.
> “For us to be characterised as a country that is intolerant of religion is absolutely false. What we have are extremists trying to divide the country. Nigerians must look deeper and reflect on our unity,” he said.
> “This is not the time for division or rhetoric but a time for nation-building. Mr President is calm and taking the issue seriously. All relevant authorities are addressing it with the depth it requires, and we believe Nigeria will come out stronger,” he added.
The minister clarified that his meeting with the President was part of regular consultations to align government communication efforts with Tinubu’s directives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had recently threatened military action against Nigeria over alleged anti-Christian attacks.
In a social media post, Trump announced that he had ordered the newly renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action” and warned that the U.S. would cut off all assistance to Nigeria “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
NAN
