Nigeria’s Presidential Spokesman Calls for Strengthened US Ties

Nigeria’s Presidential spokesman, Sunday Dare, has emphasized the importance of strengthening the country’s long-standing relationship with the United States, describing the ties between both nations as “treasured, warm, and robust.” In an interview with Newsmax TV in Washington, DC, Dare, who serves as Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, highlighted the need for renewed US engagement, particularly in the face of evolving global and regional security threats.

Dare noted that Nigeria remains a committed partner to the US, with President Tinubu having a deep understanding of American institutions and values, gained from his studies in Chicago and work experience with a leading US accounting firm. The spokesman rejected claims of a religious war or state-sanctioned targeting of Christian communities in Nigeria, describing such narratives as a “misrepresentation of the realities on the ground.” Instead, he emphasized that Nigerians of all faiths suffer from violence perpetrated by extremist groups, and that there is no deliberate state policy against any religious group.

The conflict in Nigeria, Dare explained, has evolved over the past 15 years, with Boko Haram splintering into factions such as ISWAP, and other groups involved in banditry and kidnapping, driven largely by transnational forces rather than religious motives. He cited factors such as instability in the Sahel region, the collapse of Libya, and the influx of arms across porous borders as contributing to violence in Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.

Dare stressed the importance of a stronger American media and diplomatic presence in Nigeria, suggesting that reopening the Voice of America office in Abuja would provide Washington with a clearer understanding of developments within the country. He noted that the partnership between the US and Nigeria has remained strong through successive governments, including during the administration of President Donald Trump, with significant American support during Nigeria’s ECOMOG interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The diplomatic relationship between the two countries, Dare emphasized, has remained warm, cordial, and mutually beneficial since Nigeria’s return to democracy 27 years ago. He highlighted the adoption of the American presidential system, strong bilateral trade, energy cooperation, and the significant contributions of Nigerian professionals in the US as key factors deepening the connection between the two nations. As global instability increases, Dare stressed the need for Nigeria and the US to reinvigorate their engagement, maintain open communication channels, and sustain a relationship built on decades of shared values, cooperation, and strategic interests.