The Presidency has denied reports of President Bola Tinubu’s planned visit to the United States, describing the information as baseless and mischievous.
According to the Presidency, the reports circulating in various news outlets are false and aimed at tarnishing the image of the President Tinubu administration.
This development comes against the backdrop of strained relations between Nigeria and the United States, particularly after US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to alleged religious persecution. President Tinubu has vehemently denied these allegations, stating that Nigeria is a democratic nation governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.
In response to Trump’s claim that Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria, Tinubu emphasized that the country’s diversity is its pillar of national unity. He also highlighted his administration’s efforts to engage with Christian and Muslim leaders to address security challenges affecting people of all faiths.
The Presidency’s denial of Tinubu’s planned visit to the US also echoes earlier reports of a fake statement circulating online, claiming that Tinubu had declined an invitation to visit the White House. The statement, which was attributed to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, was dismissed as fake news.
Onanuga has been vocal about the spread of misinformation, warning that the law will catch up with perpetrators of fake news. The Presidency has urged reporters to disregard the misinformation and rely on official sources for accurate information.
Speaking, specifically on the threat by Donald Trump, he said that “President Bola Tinubu was well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America as he told the new service chiefs on Thursday what Nigerians expect of them. No more excuses, he said. Nigerians want results,” Onanuga wrote.
He shared an excerpt from Tinubu’s address to the military chiefs, in which the President called for decisive and innovative action against emerging security threats across the country.
“Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South. We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head,” Tinubu said in the excerpt.
The President further urged the military to deploy technology and innovation in tackling insurgency, vowing to provide full support to ensure results.
His remarks come amid growing criticism from right-wing U.S. lawmakers, led by Senator Ted Cruz, who claim that Christians in Nigeria face systematic persecution.
In October, Cruz introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, a bill seeking to sanction Nigerian officials accused of enabling “mass murder of Christians.”
