Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has written an open letter to former U.S. President Donald Trump, debunking claims that Christians are being systematically targeted and killed in Nigeria.
Keyamo’s response follows Trump’s recent warning to deploy U.S. military forces to Nigeria if what he described as “Christian genocide” is not stopped.
In the letter shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, the minister described the allegations as “completely untrue and misleading.”
“Because of my strong Christian background and ethical pedigree, it would have been unconscionable for me to serve in a government that persecutes Christians. It is simply not true,” Keyamo wrote.
He emphasized that the violence in parts of Nigeria is not faith-based, but rather a result of terrorism, banditry, and criminal activities inherited from previous administrations.
“Just like in the U.S. and many countries, we have faced societal violence from groups like Boko Haram (now seriously weakened), herdsmen, and cattle rustlers. These problems predate the current administration,” he added.
Keyamo, who was recognized in 2017 with the Global Human Rights Award by the United States Global Leadership Council, said his personal convictions as a Christian and rights advocate make him a credible voice on the matter.
He also pointed out that several key security chiefs in President Bola Tinubu’s administration are Christians, making it “unthinkable” to suggest that the government is complicit in anti-Christian violence.
Citing Tinubu’s record of religious tolerance, Keyamo recalled that during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, the president regularly hosted Christian pastors for prayer sessions and that his wife is a pastor in one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal churches, while most of his children are practising Christians.
“President Tinubu is a known moderate who respects all faiths. He will be the last person to condone or promote the persecution of Christians,” Keyamo wrote.
The minister reaffirmed that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits any state religion, adding that insecurity in Nigeria has affected both Muslims and Christians alike.
Keyamo urged Trump and the U.S. government to seek accurate and balanced information about Nigeria’s internal affairs rather than relying on partisan narratives.
“Mr. President, the Nigerian people seek understanding, cooperation, and collaboration from your government at this time to confront this decades-old menace of terrorism,” he concluded.
