Alleged Christian Genocide: Why Nigeria Was Declared a Country of Particular Concern — Should We Be Worried?

Nigeria has been declared a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), but what does this really mean for us?

Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the U.S., not the UN, has the authority to designate any country as a Country of Particular Concern if it targets a group of people for practicing their religion and the government is found to be involved—directly or indirectly—in such acts.

This means that if a country engages in or tolerates violence against a particular religious group, violating their freedom of association and freedom of religion, and if the government is suspected of supporting those who carry out such violence, it can be labelled a CPC.

Contrary to popular belief, this does not protect only Christians. It applies to Muslims and followers of all religions as well. For example, in 2023, China was designated a Country of Particular Concern because of its persecution and detention of Uyghur Muslims (and other Turkic-Muslim minorities) in Xinjiang, including mass internment, forced labour, and restrictions on religious practices.

However, under the IRFA, Donald Trump or any U.S. president does not have the right to invade Nigeria simply because it is designated a CPC. What the U.S. can do is impose sanctions—such as visa bans, restrictions on arms sales, and limits on foreign aid. So why is the government worried?

In my opinion, being declared a Country of Particular Concern also suggests that the government is actively involved in or tolerating religious intolerance. As a result, the U.S. can impose visa bans on high-profile government officials and even seize properties belonging to them in the U.S. if they are linked to proceeds of terrorism or human rights abuses.

What happens if the U.S. actually follows through on its threats?

Under normal circumstances, the U.S. has no legal right to invade Nigeria over religious intolerance because Nigeria is a sovereign nation. But the U.S. is a global superpower, and sometimes power speaks louder than international law. Do I think an invasion will happen? No—not only because Trump often bluffs, but also because it wouldn’t make strategic sense. Still, if it did happen, we would be stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, because neither Trump nor this current government seems to genuinely care about the people.

So what can Tinubu do?

Naturally, the first step would be to engage in diplomatic dialogue with the U.S. But I recently discovered that Nigeria currently has no ambassadors or diplomats in many countries. Apparently, President Tinubu withdrew them when he took office and has not replaced them, nearly two years into his tenure. Perhaps he is saving those appointments as political rewards ahead of the next election.

Anyway, I hope I’ve been able to explain, not confuse, you about what the Country of Particular Concern designation really means.