President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that Nigeria will emerge stronger amid recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump, assuring that his administration is addressing the matter “with seriousness and depth.”

Naija News reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Tuesday after a routine meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Idris said the President remained calm and focused, adopting a multi-pronged diplomatic strategy to manage Washington’s concerns through dialogue, coordination, and transparency.

The minister said, “Of course, the issue of the U.S. threats came up, and we discussed that extensively with Mr President.

He is calm and looking for ways to ensure that the international community understands what Nigeria has been doing. 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 explained that the government prefers constructive engagement over inflammatory rhetoric, noting that new communication channels have been opened with international organisations to foster a better understanding of Nigeria’s security reforms.

The minister revealed that President Tinubu has continued to meet with Christian and Muslim leaders to strengthen national unity and counter divisive narratives.

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,” Idris said.

He added that relevant government agencies are actively working to address both domestic and international concerns through sustained dialogue and collaboration.

Idris strongly refuted claims of religious persecution in Nigeria, describing such allegations as “absolutely false.”

He further stated, “For us to be characterized 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. This is not the time for division or rhetoric but a time for nation-building.”

He assured that all relevant authorities are handling the situation “with the depth it requires,” adding that President Tinubu remains composed and determined to safeguard Nigeria’s image globally.

Trump had on Saturday threatened military action against Nigeria over the alleged killings of Christians.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the U.S. President said he had directed the Department of War to “prepare for possible action” and warned that the United States would immediately cut off all aid to Nigeria “if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians.”

The minister reaffirmed that President Tinubu will continue active engagement with the U.S., regional, and continental bodies to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism and correcting misconceptions about Nigeria.

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,” Idris said.

China says it firmly supports the Nigerian government as it “leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions”.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Beijing, Mao Ning, spokesperson of China’s foreign ministry, said “as Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force”.

Ning was answering a question on US President Donald Trump’s threat of military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.

She also responded to the report that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is seeking military equipment from China, Russia, and Iran to prepare for possible attacks by the US.

China has a clear-cut stance on the US cracking down on so-called ‘drug cartels’ by force in the Caribbean Sea,” Ming said.

“China supports the effort of combating cross-border crimes through stronger international cooperation, and opposes using or threatening to use force in international relations

We stand against moves that undermine peace and stability in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, and oppose unilateral and excessive ‘enforcement operations’ against other countries’ vessels. We hope the U.S. will engage in normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation through bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks.”

Trump warned the Nigerian government to act fast to end the “killing of Christians” in the country.

He had also called Nigeria a “disgraced country”.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” the US leader said.

I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action.

“If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”

The Nigerian government has repeatedly baulked at claims of a Christian genocide in the country.

In a riposte to Trump’s redesignation, President Bola Tinubu said: “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.

Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has urged United States President Donald Trump to show support for Nigeria’s fight against insecurity rather than make comments that could destabilize the country.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abdulsalami, speaking from London in a telephone interview, warned that Trump’s recent comments about Nigeria being a “country of particular concern” could “jeopardize the nation’s hard-won unity.”

Naija News reports that on Friday, October 31, 2025, Trump announced that Nigeria had been redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over what he described as “Christian genocide

He further warned that unless the Nigerian government acted swiftly, the United States would suspend all aid and might “unleash the Department of War” to deal with terrorists “attacking our cherished Christians.”

The comments sparked outrage across Nigeria, with political leaders and civil society groups describing the statements as “provocative and unnecessary.”

The Nigerian presidency has since announced that President Bola Tinubu and Trump are expected to meet to discuss the matter.

In his reaction, Abdulsalami described Trump’s remarks as a grave threat to national cohesion, urging Nigerians to remain united and avoid being drawn into divisive rhetoric.

Trump’s comments pose a grave threat to the country’s hard-won unity,” he said.

“At this critical time, unity, wisdom, and diplomacy must take precedence over division and pride.”

The elder statesman called on citizens to “put aside their differences” and defend the country’s sovereignty through peace and mutual respect.

Abdulsalami also appealed to the United States to adopt a more constructive approach toward Nigeria’s internal challenges, particularly in addressing insecurity, poverty, and terrorism.

“What Nigeria needs now is cooperation and strategic dialogue, not threats or labels,” he said.

“The U.S. should work with us to strengthen peace and security.”

He stressed that the international community should help developing nations like Nigeria through intelligence sharing, training, and diplomatic engagement rather than punitive declarations.

The former leader, who handed over power to a democratic government in 1999, noted that Nigeria must continue to rely on quiet diplomacy to manage international relations and safeguard its interests.

“Nigeria must continue to engage in quiet diplomacy to address any misunderstandings and protect its national interest,” he added.