China has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, issuing a stern warning to the United States against meddling in Nigeria’s internal affairs following President Donald Trump’s recent threat of military action.
Speaking during a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared that Beijing “firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in another nation’s domestic matters or threaten it with sanctions and force.”
Ning emphasized that China stands solidly with Nigeria “as it leads its people on a development path suited to its national conditions,” describing the Nigeria–China relationship as “a comprehensive strategic partnership built on mutual respect and shared growth.”
Her remarks came in response to questions about Trump’s controversial comments, in which the U.S. President accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians and hinted at possible American military intervention.
“As Nigeria’s comprehensive strategic partner, China firmly supports the Nigerian government in leading its people on the development path suited to its national conditions,” Ning reaffirmed. “China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force.”
Reacting to China’s statement, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga reposted the comments on his official X handle, applauding Beijing’s stance and reiterating that Nigeria “remains a nation founded on religious freedom and tolerance.”
Onanuga noted that the Presidency had “repeatedly dismissed unfounded claims of religious persecution,” insisting that the Tinubu administration continues to uphold the constitutional guarantee of freedom of belief for all citizens.
President Tinubu, responding personally to Trump’s remarks, said the depiction of Nigeria as a country intolerant of religion “does not reflect our national reality.”
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Tinubu stated. “Religious freedom and tolerance are core tenets of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
With Beijing’s strong backing, analysts say Nigeria’s diplomatic front may be shifting towards deepening its ties with strategic global partners less inclined toward Western interventionism — a move that could redefine the balance of influence in West Africa’s largest democracy.
