Bishop Matthew Kukah has urged the US not to redesignate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” saying it would undermine peace efforts and worsen religious tensions.
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has appealed to the United States government not to redesignate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC), warning that such a move would escalate religious and social tensions.
Kukah made the appeal on Tuesday at the Vatican City during the launch of the Aid to the Church in Need (ACIN) 2025 report on global religious freedom.
The CPC designation, given to countries accused of systematic violations of religious freedom, was first applied to Nigeria in 2020 under former President Donald Trump but later reversed by the Biden administration in 2021.
“I do believe that today, acts of impunity still persist, but it is my view that redesignating Nigeria a Country of Concern will hurt the initiatives we are working on with the current government,” Kukah said.
He warned that such a decision “will only increase tensions, sow doubt, open windows of suspicion and fear and simply allow the criminals and perpetrators of violence to exploit.”
Kukah acknowledged the Tinubu administration’s efforts to rebuild interfaith trust but urged the US to support Nigeria’s internal peace initiatives instead of imposing punitive designations.