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The Muslim Public Affairs Centre, MPAC, Nigeria, has criticized the United States government’s decision to again list Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, describing the move as politically motivated and harmful to Nigeria’s unity and international image.
In a statement released on weekend, MPAC accused U.S. President Donald Trump of “weaponizing religion” through the designation, which the organization said was based on misleading claims of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Signed by MPAC Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, it said the label “rests on a false narrative” that overlooks the complex realities of Nigeria’s security challenges.
“Nigeria’s crisis is multifaceted, driven by factors such as corruption, terrorism, regional geopolitics, and resource competition, not religion,” Kamor said.
The group argued that the U.S. administration, along with evangelical allies in Congress and some “local collaborators,” were “fueling sectarian suspicion” by portraying Nigeria’s insecurity as religious persecution.
MPAC warned that such narratives could deepen mistrust among faith communities and threaten the country’s fragile social cohesion.
MPAC urged the Nigerian government to respond firmly by rejecting the CPC designation and diplomatically challenging what it called an “unfair and politically charged” decision.
The organization also called for an investigation into allegations by a U.S. Congressman that USAID an American government agency may have been involved in funding Boko Haram, saying the claim, if true, would expose “the hypocrisy of those claiming to save Nigeria while contributing to its destabilization.”
The Muslim advocacy group further called for vigilance against “false-flag operations” intended to portray Nigeria as a nation divided along religious lines, while encouraging stronger interfaith cooperation and justice institutions to protect citizens regardless of faith.
MPAC noted that both Muslim and Christian communities have suffered heavily from violence in various parts of the country, and accused foreign actors of selectively focusing on Christian victims while ignoring attacks on Muslim populations in states such as Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina.
“The narrative of ‘Christian genocide’ pushed from abroad is a gross insult to the shared suffering of Nigerians. Nigeria’s problems are solvable through justice, good governance, and unity — not through foreign interference dressed in missionary language,” the statement said.
MPAC reaffirming its commitment to justice, fairness, and national sovereignty, urging Nigerians to “see through the manipulation” and remain united against attempts to divide the nation along religious lines.
MPAC condemns U.S. designation of Nigeria as ‘country of particular concern’
