Nigeria US relationship remains strong and treasured says spokesman

Nigeria’s presidential spokesman, Sunday Dare, stressed the need to strengthen the country’s long‑standing relationship with the United States, describing the ties as “treasured, warm and robust.” In an interview with Newsmax TV in Washington, D.C., Dare—who serves as Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications—called for renewed U.S. engagement in light of evolving global and regional security threats.

Dare noted that Nigeria remains a committed partner to the United States. He pointed out that President Tinubu has a deep understanding of American institutions and values, gained from his studies in Chicago and his work with a leading U.S. accounting firm. The spokesman rejected claims of a religious war or state‑sanctioned targeting of Christian communities in Nigeria, calling such narratives a “misrepresentation of the realities on the ground.” 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.

According to Dare, the conflict in Nigeria has evolved over the past 15 years. Boko Haram has splintered into factions such as ISWAP, while other groups engage in banditry and kidnapping. These threats are driven largely by transnational forces rather than religious motives. He cited instability in the Sahel, the collapse of Libya, and the influx of arms across porous borders as key factors fueling violence in Nigeria and the wider West African sub‑region.

Dare urged a stronger American media and diplomatic presence in Nigeria, suggesting that reopening the Voice of America office in Abuja would give Washington a clearer understanding of developments on the ground. He highlighted that the U.S.–Nigeria partnership has remained strong through successive governments, including during the Trump administration, with significant American support for Nigeria’s ECOMOG interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The diplomatic relationship, Dare emphasized, has been warm, cordial and mutually beneficial since Nigeria’s return to democracy 27 years ago. He pointed to the adoption of the American presidential system, robust bilateral trade, energy cooperation, and the contributions of Nigerian professionals in the United States as pillars deepening the connection. As global instability rises, Dare stressed the need for Nigeria and the United States to reinvigorate their engagement, maintain open communication channels, and sustain a relationship built on decades of shared values, cooperation and strategic interests.