The Presidency has denied reports claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to visit the United States this week for a meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, describing the story as entirely false.
The clarification came on Monday from Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, following a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that Tinubu would be in Washington on Tuesday for diplomatic talks.
Ajayi, in a post on his official X handle, dismissed the report as fabricated and misleading.
“There’s a Sahara Reporters story that President Tinubu is going to the U.S. on Tuesday to see U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. That story is not true,” he said.
“If President Tinubu is going to the White House, he won’t be going to see a Vice President. The fake news by Sahara has become the basis for some uninformed commentaries since yesterday.”
The denial follows rising diplomatic tension after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened possible military action against Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians.
Trump, in a Truth Social post on Saturday, warned that the U.S. could intervene militarily if Nigeria failed to halt “Christian persecution.”
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, guns-a-blazing, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists,” Trump said.
His statement triggered global reactions and renewed debate about Nigeria’s human rights and religious freedom record.
In response, President Tinubu dismissed what he called “false and exaggerated” claims of Christian genocide, insisting that Nigeria remains a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
“Since 2023, our administration has maintained open engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders and continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across faiths and regions,” Tinubu stated on X.
He described portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant as inaccurate, noting that his administration continues to promote peace, unity, and interfaith harmony.
“Religious freedom and tolerance are core tenets of our national identity. Nigeria opposes persecution and remains committed to protecting citizens of all faiths,” he said.
The President also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with the United States and other partners to strengthen security cooperation and promote mutual understanding.
Ajayi urged the media and the public to verify information before publication, warning that misinformation could strain diplomatic relations.
“Fake news has real consequences,” he said. “We must avoid amplifying false stories that can mislead citizens or damage international partnerships.”
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