Idris: Nigeria-U.S. Tensions Easing After Renewed Dialogue, Minister Faults Lobby Groups

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says Abuja’s diplomatic outreach to Washington is beginning to ease the recent strain in relations between the two countries.

Speaking during an appearance on Sky News’ The World With Yalda Hakim on Monday night, Idris disclosed that direct lines of communication with U.S. officials have been restored. According to him, ongoing conversations are helping both sides clarify points of contention and correct earlier misconceptions.

“The channels are open again. We are engaging them, and they are gaining a clearer understanding of the issues at play,” Idris said. He argued that much of the tension stemmed from a misreading of Nigeria’s internal security landscape and its multi-layered challenges.

The minister also claimed that certain lobbying interests in the United States are linked to a banned separatist group in Nigeria. He accused these groups of spreading distorted narratives and pressuring U.S. policymakers to take positions unfavourable to Nigeria. Idris said these lobbyists are “reaching out to influential figures in the U.S. to push misleading information on behalf of a proscribed terrorist group.”

While acknowledging past American support in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations, Idris appealed for renewed collaboration, stressing that both countries have a shared interest in peace and stability. “The United States has assisted us before in tackling these threats. We are urging them to work with us again so we can secure lasting peace,” he added.

He further challenged recent U.S. reports on Nigeria’s human rights and security situation, dismissing them as inaccurate and disconnected from realities on the ground. Idris called on the global community to consider Nigeria’s complicated security matrix before drawing conclusions.

“We want the world to understand that many of these claims do not reflect the true situation. We condemn the killings, but what we seek is a balanced and informed view of Nigeria’s complexities,” he said.

Idris reiterated that Nigeria’s constitution protects freedom of worship and insisted that the country cannot be characterised as a place of religious persecution. He maintained that Nigeria remains a diverse, multi-faith nation despite ongoing conflicts in some regions.