Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has dismissed allegations by former United States President, Donald Trump, that Christians are being deliberately killed in Nigeria.
Reacting through his verified X handle on Wednesday, Keyamo said the claim was baseless, stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style, family background and appointments clearly contradict such accusations.
He explained that President Tinubu, a Muslim, is married to a Christian pastor of one of Nigeria’s leading Pentecostal churches and has consistently demonstrated religious tolerance in both his personal and public life.
The minister further noted that several top security officials in the present administration are Christians, making it unreasonable to suggest that the government would condone or promote attacks against Christians.
According to Keyamo, President Tinubu has always been known as a moderate leader who values interfaith harmony. He recalled that during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, Tinubu often invited Christian clerics for prayers and worship at the Government House.
While acknowledging that Nigeria is currently grappling with security challenges, the minister said the problems are not new and have affected people of all faiths across different regions of the country.
He maintained that the Federal Government is working tirelessly to overcome insecurity and has made notable progress in tackling insurgency and related crimes.
Keyamo emphasised that Nigeria remains a secular nation whose Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and forbids the adoption of any state religion.
He added that the government under President Tinubu has not shown bias toward any religious group and continues to protect the rights and safety of all citizens regardless of belief.
Trump had last week described the situation in Nigeria as a “mass slaughter” of Christians and urged the United States to intervene, a statement that has drawn sharp reactions from Nigerian officials.
