The Presidency has alleged that a “coordinated agenda” is being orchestrated by some U.S. lawmakers and lobbyists to pressure American President, Donald Trump, into designating Nigeria as a country that persecutes religious minorities.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the claim during an interview on Arise News’ Prime Time on Tuesday.

Bwala said, “There is a coordinated agenda against Nigeria. Those pushing this narrative are not in the executive branch of the U.S. government; they are a pack-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.”

He accused the group of deliberately twisting incidents of terrorism and communal clashes to portray Nigeria as a country engaged in systematic religious persecution.

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

The Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 allows Washington to impose sanctions on nations accused of “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of religious freedom.

Nigeria was first placed on the CPC list in 2020 under Trump’s presidency, following lobbying by Christian advocacy groups who cited Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks. The designation was lifted in 2021 by President Joe Biden, citing improved government responses to violence, a decision that angered senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, who have since pushed for its reinstatement.

The presidential aide insisted that the Tinubu administration would not engage in lobbying but would counter “Western disinformation” with verifiable evidence.

“What used to happen in Nigeria is that whenever this kind of false allegation comes, Nigerians will be looking to lobby in the U.S. No, you match up the Western disinformation,” Bwala argued.

He stressed that insecurity in Nigeria stems from terrorism, banditry, and criminality rather than state-sponsored religious persecution.

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