The Presidency has said that President Bola Tinubu took early steps to prevent tension with the United States after Nigeria was recently listed as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged attacks on Christians.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu had already made strong decisions to strengthen Nigeria’s security before the U.S. made its announcement.
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According to Onanuga, the President’s decision to reorganize the military leadership and give firm instructions to the new service chiefs shows that he acted ahead of the situation.
His comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington might take “direct action” against any country accused of religious persecution — just a day after Nigeria was added to the CPC list.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga wrote:
“President Tinubu was already aware of what was coming. He told the new service chiefs on Thursday that Nigerians expect results — no more excuses.”
Onanuga recalled that during the decoration of the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu warned against the rise of new armed groups in parts of the country and ordered the military to crush them quickly.
Quoting Tinubu, he said:
“Security threats are always changing. We are worried about new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and South. We must not allow these threats to grow. We must act fast and decisively to stop them.”
The Presidency added that Tinubu’s actions show his readiness to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty and independence against any foreign pressure or interference.