Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi, says the ongoing United States fact-finding mission on religious freedom and insecurity in Nigeria signals a clear distrust of both the government’s official narrative and the coverage provided by the country’s mainstream media.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News,Amadi said the visit by a high-level US congressional delegation — and their meetings with victims, clerics and state officials — reflects Washington’s desire to independently verify allegations of targeted attacks and governance failures.
Amadi said the US fact-finding team was acting directly on President Donald Trump’s announcement that Nigeria would be reviewed as a “country of particular concern”.
“When Trump makes what appears to be policy statements through his Twitter handle or press conferences, it does not mean that the American foreign-policy machine will work exactly according to the rhetoric and the tenor of those statements. They will go back and calibrate.”
He noted that congressional hearings had already been held before the visit, in line with Trump’s stated intention to launch an inquiry.
“Trump is moving in the way he indicated. People are asking whether Trump is going to attack Nigeria. If you listen carefully — forget the rhetoric, forget the typical Trumpian language — it is clear they want to find out.”
He said the US team came with three key concerns:
“First is that they might remove Nigeria from critical aid. They might contemplate visa restrictions — which have been announced. They might also, maybe worst-case scenario, carry out a hit-and-run to take out terrorists.”
Amadi said the US delegation signalled seriousness by avoiding prolonged official ceremonies.
“If it was a Nigerian delegation, they would spend days in a hotel meeting all ranking people. These people just met the NSA, had a bit of a meeting and went to the spot.”
He said the team deliberately sought direct testimonies.
“They don’t want only official statements or official narratives. They want statements from victims. There is distrust of both the official narrative and the mainstream media. They are saying: we don’t trust you guys — we want to see what is happening.”
Amadi said the US will likely reaffirm that Christians are disproportionately affected in northern Nigeria.
“I think they will restate that statement. Not that Muslims are not being killed. But they will come back and say Christians are being targeted in northern Nigeria. They will also say these terrorists attack whatever is before them.”
Amadi dismissed suggestions that France’s offer to support Nigeria in counter-terror operations represents a positive shift.
“France is gasping for breath. Macron is tired. They are just looking to Africa to rejuvenate their youth. I have no trust in the French intervention anyhow.”
He warned against foreign military adventurism in the region.
“We should be careful invading Benin for any reason. We don’t want a precedent of West African invasion. We don’t want Trump to go ablaze into Nigeria.”
On whether Trump could reverse Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), Amadi said symbolism is not enough.
“We will not get out except we deal with the issues. In 2020, we were removed because lobbyists worked in Washington. But the truth is that we will not get out unless the facts change.”
He outlined the key concerns:
“There is the issue of criminal Sharia — the public Sharia — which creates a sense of constitutional double citizenship. There is the violence in the Benue Valley. You must respect the rule of law.”
He said the US relies strictly on evidence.
“The American fact-finder process is not based on narratives. It is fact-based. If you change the facts on the ground, you will be redesignated.”
Amadi criticised Nigeria’s political class for failing to respond robustly to the diplomatic confrontation.
“This is like injecting cocaine. The government will act like someone possessed. But if there is no local ownership and local pressure, nothing will change.”
He said the National Assembly has been passive.
“Unfortunately, the National Assembly is dead, basically. A foreign country is threatening to bomb you. Have they held any hearing? All you hear is statements like ‘Trump is lost’. That is childish and irresponsible.”
He said a serious parliamentary inquiry was needed.
“I expected a bipartisan congressional hearing where they sit down and bring that reverend who went to Washington. The Americans have engaged him — but our National Assembly has not.”
He described Nigeria’s political response as evasive.
“The ruling APC says nothing. ADC, the party that wants to take over, is playing dead. Nobody wants to face the political inconvenience of saying what it is.”
Amadi said Nigeria will likely wait out US pressure.
“Nigeria will remain a CPC — but with little consequence in terms of physical military attack.”
Turning to regional stability, Amadi said the region is structurally weak.
“It is the most fragile, the poorest, the most undemocratic region in the world. Environmental crisis, human crisis, ethnic conflict — and leadership that is the most irresponsible.”
He said governance failures drive instability.
“At the heart of every conflict — in Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso — is irresponsible and unaccountable governance. Institutions are desecrated.”
He warned that poverty and conflict reinforce one another.
“People see leaders who don’t care. They are trapped in conflict and trapped in poverty. It creates the illusion that military rule may be better than democracy.”
Amadi said the real solution is not foreign military support.
“The ultimate antidote is not aircraft and bullets, but good governance, economic growth, sustainable growth and equal shared prosperity.”
Boluwatife Enome
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