CPC: Nigeria’s Trial or Triumph in U.S. Religious Freedom Politics? Asks Remmy Nweke - WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

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As Washington weighs Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) fate, WeekendDigits@ITREALMS with REMMY NWEKE reports that Abuja, the seat of the federal government, appears to be doubling down on faith diplomacy, brandishing the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council’s (NIREC) interfaith bridges and moral voices as proof that unity, not persecution, defines its religious freedom posture.

When the United States designates a nation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), it is not mere diplomatic labeling, it is a signal to the global community that a government has allegedly tolerated or engaged in “particularly severe violations” of religious freedom.

Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, this label ranks among the most serious rebukes Washington can issue against a sovereign state.

For Nigeria, the CPC conversation has been both symbolic and sensitive. In 2020, the U.S. Secretary of State listed Nigeria as a CPC, citing ongoing religiously linked violence, alleged official inaction, and community-level intolerance.

By 2021, however, Nigeria was delisted, a move that drew applause from Abuja but skepticism from human rights observers who viewed it as a diplomatic concession rather than an improvement on the ground.

Between scrutiny and strategy:
The CPC designation is more than a moral verdict; it carries policy, diplomatic, and reputational consequences.

While primarily symbolic, it legally mandates the U.S. President to choose and apply one or more “Presidential actions” from aid suspension to visa bans, trade limits, or formal diplomatic protests.

Yet, in practice, WeekendDigits@ITREALMS gathered that these sanctions are often waived in favor of “national interest.” Over 80% of CPC cases since 1998 have been softened by waivers, proof that global politics often trumps pure principle.

Nigeria’s 2021 delisting reflected this pragmatic balance: 

Analysts informed that Washington’s strategic interests in West Africa; from counter-terrorism cooperation to energy security, outweighed activist pressure for sustained sanctions.

Still, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) continues to recommend Nigeria’s relisting, citing persistent attacks on worshippers, blasphemy-related arrests, and weak accountability mechanisms.

Nigeria’s Defense: Beyond religion:
Abuja’s response has remained consistent: Nigeria’s violence is complex, not a simple religious divide. Officials argue that the so-called “religious persecution” narrative masks deeper causes, terrorism, poverty, resource conflict, and ethnic rivalry.

Government spokespersons and diplomats have often defended Nigeria’s record on religious freedom by citing active interfaith collaboration and peacebuilding efforts. A central example is the work of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), a forum jointly led by Christian and Muslim leaders with government backing.

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Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Co-Chair of NIREC, stressed during a national interfaith forum in Abuja, that unity cannot exist without sincerity and trust: “Our theme could not be more timely. Without mutual trust, unity becomes an illusion. Trust must be earned through sincerity, empathy, and fairness.”

Similarly, Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, Executive Secretary of NIREC, has emphasized prayer and dialogue as foundations for national cohesion. “By praying together, we are accepting the fact that we have a basis for dialogue. First that God is the creator of all of us, and there is only one God.”

He further noted that shared challenges such as pandemics or insecurity transcend religious divides, citing the case of 2022 COVID-19, pointing out that pandemics does not respect religion.

From the government’s side, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture quoted then Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, as publicly acknowledging the renewed momentum in NIREC’s engagement under the Buhari administration.

However, in international diplomacy, perception often outweighs explanation. As long as faith-related violence dominates headlines and victims lack justice, Nigeria’s credibility on human rights will continue to face external scrutiny.

Diplomatic and economic ripples:
A CPC status could dent U.S.–Nigeria relations, slow development assistance, and complicate defense cooperation. Washington could also oppose Nigeria’s access to new World Bank or IMF facilities, citing governance and rights concerns.

Even if sanctions are waived, the reputational cost remains high.
Such designations can erode investor confidence and tarnish Nigeria’s image as Africa’s largest democracy, one striving to lead regionally while battling internal instability.

The path to triumph, therefore, lies not in lobbying away the label, but in proving reforms: ensuring justice for victims, guaranteeing security for worshippers, and strengthening constitutional protections for all faiths.

Faith, freedom, and responsibility:
Religious freedom is more than a constitutional phrase; it is the moral measure of any society’s humanity.

For a nation as devoutly religious as Nigeria, where mosques and churches coexist in nearly every community, faith should be a unifier, not a fault line.

True triumph will come when the right to worship freely, without fear or favoritism and becomes not just law but lived reality.
This demands both political will and institutional reform; from law enforcement accountability to civic education and inclusive governance.

Trial or triumph?
In the eyes of the U.S. and the world, Nigeria’s standing in the CPC debate remains under observation. It can be remembered as a trial of credibility or a triumph of renewal, depending on whether it turns criticism into constructive reform.

As the global spotlight lingers, Nigeria’s leaders must move beyond diplomatic defensiveness to practical action.

Faith and freedom are not mutually exclusive; together, they form the digital-age blueprint of good governance and human dignity.

WeekendDigits@ITREALMS with Remmy Nweke …Connecting governance, faith, and digital responsibility.

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