Reports emerging from Washington indicate that the U.S. Department of Defense has presented a classified contingency plan to President Donald Trump outlining potential military options in the event of a major humanitarian or security crisis in Nigeria. The briefing reportedly came amid growing advocacy in the U.S. Congress over alleged Christian persecution and rising insecurity in West Africa.
According to sources familiar with the deliberations, the Pentagon document focuses on non-combat measures such as humanitarian intervention, intelligence cooperation, and potential sanctions enforcement, though no deployment decision has been made.
The development coincides with growing disagreement among global powers over Washington’s rhetoric. China’s foreign ministry had earlier criticised Trump’s comments about Nigeria, calling them “destabilising and neo-interventionist.” However, U.S. lawmakers dismissed Beijing’s position, saying the United States “will not take moral lectures from a country with its own record of religious suppression.”
The bipartisan group of American legislators maintained that the U.S. must uphold global religious freedom principles, particularly in regions where government response to violence appears inadequate. “We cannot ignore atrocities because other nations wish to silence our moral responsibility,” a senior congressman was quoted as saying.
In Abuja, the Nigerian government has reacted cautiously to the unfolding situation. A senior foreign ministry official said the administration is engaging with both Washington and Beijing to ensure Nigeria’s sovereignty is respected. “We remain open to constructive partnerships but will not accept any foreign policy that treats Nigeria as a failed state,” the official stated.
Security analysts argue that while the prospect of U.S. military involvement in Nigeria remains remote, the discussions reflect Washington’s evolving strategic interest in West Africa. With the Sahel region in flux after successive coups, Nigeria’s stability is viewed as critical to regional order.
However, diplomatic experts warn that rhetoric from Trump and his supporters risks fuelling political anxiety in Nigeria and across Africa. They urge both Washington and Abuja to focus on cooperation through the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission rather than confrontation.
China’s objection has added another layer of geopolitical tension, as Beijing maintains major infrastructure and security investments in Nigeria. Analysts say the rivalry between the two superpowers could increasingly play out in Africa’s largest democracy, forcing Nigeria to balance relationships carefully.
For now, no formal U.S. military decision has been announced, but the discussions underscore how Nigeria’s internal challenges have become a point of global concern — and a stage for competing international interests.