The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has strongly criticized the United States government’s decision to once again designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), describing the move as politically motivated and damaging to the nation’s unity and international reputation.
In a statement released over the weekend and signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC accused U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration of “weaponizing religion” through the designation, which it said was based on misleading claims of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Kamor argued that the CPC label “rests on a false narrative” that ignores the complex and multifaceted nature of Nigeria’s security challenges. “Nigeria’s crisis is multifaceted, driven by factors such as corruption, terrorism, regional geopolitics, and resource competition — not religion,” he said.
The organization alleged that the U.S. government, in collaboration with some evangelical allies in Congress and “local collaborators,” was fueling sectarian tension by framing Nigeria’s insecurity as religious persecution. MPAC warned that such narratives could deepen mistrust among faith communities and endanger the country’s fragile social fabric.
Calling on the Nigerian government to “respond firmly,” MPAC urged authorities to reject the CPC designation and challenge what it described as an “unfair and politically charged” decision through diplomatic channels.
The group also demanded a thorough investigation into recent allegations by a U.S. congressman that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) may have been involved in funding Boko Haram.
MPAC said that, if proven true, such claims would expose “the hypocrisy of those claiming to save Nigeria while contributing to its destabilization.”
The Muslim advocacy group further warned against “false-flag operations” designed to portray Nigeria as divided along religious lines, calling instead for stronger interfaith cooperation and institutions that ensure justice and protection for all citizens, regardless of faith.
MPAC emphasized that both Muslim and Christian communities have suffered immensely from violence in different parts of the country. It accused foreign actors of selectively amplifying Christian victimhood 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,” the statement read. “Nigeria’s problems are solvable through justice, good governance, and unity —not through foreign interference dressed in missionary language.”
Reaffirming its commitment to justice, fairness, and national sovereignty, MPAC urged Nigerians to “see through the manipulation” and remain united against attempts to divide the country along religious line.