Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Guidance, Muhammed Idris, has dismissed the recent US public hearing on the proposed redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), describing the exercise as “misleading and driven by inaccurate narratives”.
Reacting to the session held by US lawmakers, religious leaders and State Department officials in Washington on Politics Today on Channels TV, the minister said the hearing was largely based on “distorted claims” that do not reflect Nigeria’s religious freedom landscape.
According to him, allegations suggesting that Christians are being systematically persecuted in Nigeria are “false, unfair and not supported by verifiable facts.” He stressed that Nigeria is a secular nation that protects the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of their faith.
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“The hearing did not present a balanced picture. It ignored the complexities of insecurity in Nigeria and failed to recognize that victims of violence transcend religious boundaries,” the minister said.
He added that the government has consistently taken steps to address security challenges, promote interfaith dialogue and bring perpetrators of violence to justice, whether Muslim or Christian.
The minister further condemned what he described as the “one-sided nature” of the hearing, noting that Nigerian government officials were not invited or given the opportunity to present factual data that could have contradicted many of the claims made at the session. He said such an approach “does not meet the standards expected of a fair and objective congressional investigation.”
He warned that framing Nigeria’s complex security challenges as religious persecution oversimplifies the issues and risks deepening divisions.
“When foreign bodies reduce crime, banditry and communal disputes to a religious war, they not only misinform their own public but also jeopardize efforts to build unity in the country,” he said.
The minister reiterated that the government has been expanding collaboration with religious leaders, security agencies and civil society to strengthen early warning systems, promote peaceful coexistence and respond to emerging threats. He said these efforts have led to significant advances that were not recognized in the United States audience.
He also rejected what he called the “weaponization of misinformation” by lobbyists, saying some organizations repeatedly recycle outdated or inaccurate reports to secure political influence in Washington. “Nigeria will not accept labels pushed by advocacy groups whose motives are questionable and whose reports do not reflect the reality on the ground,” he added.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to constructive engagement, the minister said the Federal Government remains open to dialogue with the United States, but expects fairness, balance and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty. “We urge our partners in the US Congress to rely on credible data, objective assessments and direct engagement with Nigerian authorities before drawing conclusions that could shape foreign policy,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria remains committed to defending religious freedom, protecting communities and strengthening national cohesion. “Any narrative that suggests otherwise is misleading, dangerous and unacceptable,” he said.
Newslodge