Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has called on US President Donald Trump to retract his recent remarks and issue an apology to Nigeria, describing his comments as offensive, undiplomatic, and inconsistent with international norms.
Jibrin’s rebuke comes after Trump labelled Nigeria as “a disgraced country” and redesignated it as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing alleged killings of Christians. Trump also warned that the US might intervene militarily if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians,” remarks that have sparked widespread condemnation.
In a viral video released on Friday, November 8, 2025, Jibrin described the statements as a violation of diplomatic protocols and international law. “But for now, for the president of the United States to come in and say, ‘Oh, you are doing this and we are going to attack you, and Nigeria is a disgraced country’ — this is quite unacceptable,” he said.
The Deputy Senate President stressed that no foreign leader has the right to issue military threats without due process, emphasizing that such remarks undermine the principles of sovereignty and mutual respect that govern international relations. “We feel that he should understand, then retract that statement and apologise to Nigeria,” Jibrin added.
Jibrin further highlighted that Trump’s comments contradict the values America claims to uphold, including respect for diplomacy, dialogue, and human rights. He warned that such unilateral threats risk escalating tensions unnecessarily and could damage bilateral relations between the two nations.
The controversy has sparked reactions across Nigerian political circles, with civil society groups, lawmakers, and analysts questioning the appropriateness of a sitting US president making direct threats against a sovereign African nation. Many have called for measured diplomatic engagement rather than public denunciations.
Nigeria’s government is yet to respond officially to the latest statements from Trump. However, Jibrin’s demand for an apology reinforces calls for diplomatic channels to address the CPC designation and alleged human rights concerns while safeguarding Nigeria’s international standing.
