The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reacted strongly to the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by United States President Donald Trump, describing the move as a wake-up call for the Nigerian government to take responsibility for its failures in protecting citizens.
In a detailed statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed deep sorrow over the thousands of lives lost to insecurity in recent years, saying the situation has become an existential threat that transcends tribal and religious lines.
The party noted that President Trump’s remarks reflect a growing global anxiety about the sanctity of human life and the duty of national governments to guarantee the safety of their people. It said the measure of a nation’s dignity is no longer defined solely by economic performance but also by its commitment to protecting citizens from harm.
Abdullahi accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of failing “in the most sacred mandate of government,” alleging that nearly 15,000 Nigerians have been killed since Tinubu assumed office in 2023. He said these deaths cut across all regions and religions, pointing to a “national crisis that endangers everyone, regardless of identity or belief.”
The statement cited the resurgence of Boko Haram and the expansion of violent groups such as bandits and foreign-backed terrorists. It also drew attention to a recent attack by JNIM, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, in Kwara State, the same day President Trump issued his statement, as evidence of worsening insecurity spreading toward southern Nigeria.
The ADC accused the Tinubu administration of refusing to admit the scale of the crisis or take responsibility for it. “Instead, Nigerians have been met with excuses, cruel silence, and political posturing that mocks the tragedy of victims and their families,” the party said.
The statement further faulted the government’s failure to appoint ambassadors to key countries more than two years into its term, calling it a symptom of deeper diplomatic decay. It argued that foreign policy has become “deeply personalised and focused on the image of the president rather than the interests of the Nigerian people.”
According to the ADC, Nigeria’s influence in Africa has declined sharply under Tinubu, with ECOWAS now fractured and disillusioned. “A region that once looked up to us for leadership now sees a country fumbling with its own domestic crisis,” the party lamented.
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The ADC recommended a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, including an independent audit of its operations and leadership. It also urged the immediate appointment of qualified ambassadors to rebuild Nigeria’s international presence, alongside a foreign policy “rooted in national interest, not personal promotion.”
Other recommendations include economic reforms focused on stabilising prices, establishing a verifiable social welfare system for the poor, and ending the personalization of public institutions.
While commending the concern expressed by President Trump and other world leaders, the ADC cautioned against any talk of foreign military intervention, warning that such an approach would be counterproductive.
“Nigeria is not beyond saving,” the statement concluded, “but time is running out. We must act now, with courage and clarity, to protect the lives and dignity of every Nigerian. Certainly, Nigeria cannot continue like this.”
