By Wellington Jopelo
China has voiced strong support for Nigeria and cautioned other nations against meddling in its internal affairs following a U.S. threat of military action.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, the Spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, said China stood firmly behind President Bola Tinubu’s government and Nigeria’s right to choose its own development path. “As Nigeria’s strategic partner, China opposes any attempt by foreign powers to use religion or human rights as a pretext to meddle in another country’s internal affairs or impose sanctions and military threats,” she stated.
Mao praised the Tinubu administration for its efforts to promote stability and economic growth, saying China believed every country should be allowed to solve its own challenges without outside interference.
She added that cooperation between China and Nigeria remained strong in trade, infrastructure, and security, and that Beijing would continue to support Abuja’s pursuit of national development. “We respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and stand ready to work together on shared interests that promote peace and progress,” Mao said.
Her remarks followed reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump had warned of possible military action in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians. The statement sparked wide criticism from Nigerian officials and international observers.
In response, the Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to religious freedom and national unity, noting that claims of targeted attacks on Christians were misleading. Officials maintained that the country’s main challenge was terrorism, which affects people of all faiths.
“The portrayal of Nigeria as a country that persecutes Christians is simply not true,” a government spokesperson said, stressing that Nigeria values coexistence and mutual respect among all religions.