Deputy Spokesperson of the League of African Ambassadors, Ambassador John Usanga, has advised the Nigerian government to take proactive diplomatic steps to calm rising tensions with the United States, following threats by US President Donald Trump to invade Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, Usanga said while the federal government’s initial response through diplomatic channels was a step in the right direction, Nigeria must go beyond press statements to direct engagement with Washington.
“So far, the steps taken by the federal government are in the right direction. When tensions escalate, the first thing you do is de-escalate,” he said. “But at this point, it’s not enough to respond through press statements. Nigeria is blessed with high-profile individuals, respected globally, who should be deployed as emissaries to de-escalate the tension building up between Nigeria and the USA.”
He said such emissaries could “wet the ground” for high-level diplomatic engagements and demonstrate that Nigeria takes the matter seriously.
“We should show the US government that Nigeria is serious about addressing the concerns they have raised,” he added. “If the United States’ perception of Nigerian Christians being targeted is based on verified security reports, that gives cause for concern. But if it is based on assumptions arising from general killings, then the government must explain the situation clearly to give comfort that this is not a campaign against any faith.”
Usanga stressed that while killings across the country are real, they are not religiously motivated.
“We are here, we know exactly what is going on. Nigerian Christians are not being singled out. There’s terrorism and banditry across the country,” he said. “We need to engage credible Nigerians with access to US government authorities — people who can explain the reality here, de-escalate the tension, and pave the way for sustained diplomatic engagement.”
The former ambassador to Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde also weighed in on China’s recent show of support for Nigeria, following Trump’s comments, saying the development reflects geopolitical interests rather than friendship.
“Diplomacy is the engine that drives international relations, and everything about it is based on interest,” he explained. “China’s support is its way of showing Nigeria that it is a strong ally. But Nigeria must be careful not to turn this into a ‘them versus us’ scenario between the US and China.”
Usanga cautioned that Nigeria’s diplomacy must remain inclusive and interest-driven.
“The United States remains a strong ally of Nigeria. In as much as China wants to demonstrate its alliance, we must create room for all partners to engage with us,” he said. “It’s not about me and them — it’s about all of us working together for the good of society. You bring value, I bring value, and we move forward.”
He concluded by urging the government to balance its response carefully, acknowledging both Nigeria’s sovereignty and its global responsibilities.
“Yes, sovereignty is recognised under international law as the supreme power of a state within its territory,” Usanga said. “But when you belong to multilateral organisations or have bilateral ties, you’ve already ceded some aspects of sovereignty to honour agreements. What matters now is diplomacy — calm, strategic, and rooted in engagement, not confrontation.”
Boluwatife Enome
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