President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported trip to the United States for direct talks with President Donald Trump has been put on hold.
According to top presidency sources, discussions between both governments are ongoing, but no physical meeting has been scheduled at this time.
“The meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Donald Trump is not going as earlier reported. There are no current plans for a visit to Washington, D.C.,” one presidency source said.
“However, there is an invitation for President Tinubu to attend the G-20 Summit on November 20 in Durban, South Africa, where a possible bilateral meeting with President Trump may take place.”
Earlier reports had suggested that the two leaders would meet either at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington to strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism and global security.
In a previous statement, Daniel Bwala, Media Aide to President Tinubu, said both leaders shared a common vision in combating terrorism and protecting humanity from violent extremism.
“Both President @officialABAT and President @realDonaldTrump have shared interest in the fight against insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala said.
He also credited Trump’s administration for authorising the sale of arms to Nigeria, which Tinubu has reportedly leveraged to intensify the fight against terrorism.
“President Trump assisted Nigeria greatly by approving the sale of arms, and President Tinubu has effectively utilised that opportunity to strengthen national security,” he added.
However, tension rose after President Trump designated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’, citing alleged persecution of Christians. Trump warned that the U.S. could suspend aid and potentially deploy military force if the situation persisted.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and may very well go into that disgraced country, guns blazing, to wipe out the terrorists,” Trump had said.
Responding, President Tinubu rejected the claim, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and constitutional equality for all citizens.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” the President said in a statement.
“Our administration has maintained open engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders, addressing security challenges that affect all citizens regardless of faith or region.”
Tinubu described external reports portraying Nigeria as religiously intolerant as inaccurate and misleading, saying they fail to reflect the nation’s diversity and commitment to peaceful coexistence.
“Religious tolerance remains central to Nigeria’s national identity. The government neither supports nor condones persecution based on faith,” he said.
He added that his administration will continue working with the U.S. government and other international partners to promote understanding, protect communities, and uphold shared democratic values.
