Trending 
The Nigerian authorities are stepping up diplomatic efforts to have the United States reverse its designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing progress in security cooperation and regional stability.
The move was disclosed by Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu in a post on X on Tuesday.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the issue came up during a courtesy visit by US Chargé d’Affaires David Heffern to her office in Abuja.
In 2025, US President Donald Trump declared Nigeria to be a Country of Particular Concern due to what he called the nation’s inability to address serious, persistent violations of religious freedom.
The designation was primarily driven by the rising persecution of Christians and the government’s perceived inaction against violence from Boko Haram and Fulani militias in the North East and Middle Belt regions.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, her discussion with Heffern covered several areas of mutual concern.
“It was a very constructive engagement with U.S.A Charge d’Affaires, David Heffern and our discussions centered on matters of security and defence, border and migration challenges, counter-terrorism initiatives, intelligence sharing, visa issues and various other matters of mutual interest between our countries,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
“We also discussed our collaborations within the Joint Working Group, measures to promote stability within the region as well as Nigeria’s CPC (Country of Particular Concern) designation by the United States.”
The foreign minister assured that Nigerian authorities would continue to “engage on the necessary measures and collaborations needed to reverse this designation” and “work towards deepening the longstanding bilateral relations” between both nations.
🇳🇬 NIGERIA 🇺🇸 USA.
It was a very constructive engagement with U.S.A Charge d’Affaires, David Heffern and our discussions centered on matters of security and defence, border and migration challenges, counter-terrorism initiatives, intelligence sharing, visa issues and various… pic.twitter.com/Bo4fNln9Os
— Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (@Ojukwu_Bianca) May 5, 2026
