At a Glance
- Forum examined Nigeria’s security lapses and rising U.S. pressure over religious attacks.
- Seasoned analysts criticized weakened diplomacy and poor crisis response fueling the ongoing dispute.
- Speakers urged Nigeria to address internal violence without relying on U.S. intervention.
Seasoned and renowned speakers gathered Thursday at the Dele Momodu Leadership Centre in Ibadan to examine rising tension in Nigeria–U.S. relations, following Washington’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
The forum, moderated by journalist Reuben Abati and organized by the Dele Momodu Foundation, assessed how security failures, weak crisis response and stalled diplomacy have shaped the dispute.
U.S. pressure and domestic security concerns
Professor Wale Adebanwi of the University of Pennsylvania, former senator Shehu Sani, Ambassador Joe Keshi and former Foreign Affairs Minister Bolaji Akinyemi led discussions on the widening rift.
Sani said Nigeria must confront its security challenges without expecting U.S. intervention. He warned that attacks affecting both Christian and Muslim communities have escalated across several states and criticized assumptions that Washington will respond militarily. “Let us solve this security problem as a national problem,” he said.
Sani also noted that former President Donald Trump’s public threats should be viewed cautiously. “If you live by his posts, you will be disappointed,” he told attendees, pointing to Trump’s history of unfulfilled statements.
Diplomacy under strain
Keshi said Nigeria’s diplomatic service has weakened over the years, leaving the country unable to counter organized lobbying by religious groups in Washington.
He faulted the slow response to rising concerns in the U.S. Congress, saying Nigeria lost critical ground in the debate.
“Things have gone very bad with the Nigerian diplomatic service,” he said, arguing that a stronger foreign-service network could have eased some of the current pressure.
He added that the ongoing security crisis has cost lives and stalled economic activity, intensifying scrutiny from abroad.
Long-standing weaknesses exposed
Adebanwi linked the rift to deeper failures in crisis response and foreign-relations management. He said Nigeria did not address underlying security problems before they escalated into international concern.
Akinyemi urged Nigerians to avoid assuming hidden motives in U.S. engagement, noting that American religious groups have long-standing ties with Nigerian Christian communities. He said those relationships shape how Washington responds to reports of attacks.
A path forward
Speakers agreed that repairing the relationship will require stronger diplomacy, more reliable security coordination and transparent communication with international partners. Several argued that Nigeria must show measurable progress in reducing violence to reduce outside pressure.
