In response to US President Donald Trump’s recent threats of military action against Nigeria and his decision to redesignate the country as a “country of particular concern” due to alleged religious persecution, the Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has urged EU leaders to exercise restraint.
The group called on the EU to take a balanced diplomatic stance and to fortify its relationship with Nigeria by providing strategic assistance in the battle against terrorism, banditry, and other types of insecurity in an electronic statement released from Paris on Thursday.
The group called Trump’s statements “provocative and dangerous,” cautioning that they could escalate tensions, give extremist organizations more confidence, and jeopardize Nigeria’s consistent advancements in economic reform and counterterrorism.
Dr. Livinus Chukwuemeka Nwosu, the president of ANPE, and Mrs. Aisha M. Bello, the group’s secretary and security specialist, issued a statement urging European leaders to “act with wisdom and restraint” by opposing any unilateral US action that may destabilize the West African region.
“We urge the European Union to prevent President Trump from taking any aggressive action or escalating his policies against Nigeria as a global voice of diplomacy and balance. Constructive participation is what our nation needs, not force. The declaration states that rather than endangering Nigeria, the international community ought to promote its security and democratic consolidation.
The group emphasized that Nigeria’s religious plurality has traditionally been a source of cultural richness rather than conflict and that it was deceptive and ineffective to frame the nation’s security issues as religious persecution.
ANPE claims that both Muslims and Christians have been impacted by terrorism, insurgency, and banditry in Nigeria, especially in the country’s northern and central areas.
Regardless of ethnicity or religion, every Nigerian’s life is sacred. “We reject any narrative that uses religion as a weapon to justify foreign intervention or hostility,” the statement continued.
The organization called on the EU to support Nigeria’s continued counterterrorism efforts by providing weapons, exchanging intelligence, and collaborating on training initiatives that would fortify regional security agencies.
According to ANPE, mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace should serve as the foundation for this kind of cooperation, but direct meddling in Nigeria’s internal affairs should be avoided.
Positive advances in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry were also recognized in the statement, which the group claimed demonstrated the nation’s tenacity and reform-driven advancement.
European investors were reassured by ANPE that their interests are safe, citing improved regulatory openness and restored investor confidence under the present government.
“European investors in Nigeria’s energy sector shouldn’t be afraid.” To improve accountability, bolster local content, and draw long-term investment, the administration is consolidating measures. According to the group, stable international alliances are more important for Nigeria’s economic recovery than geopolitical unrest.
Trump’s new designation and threats, according to ANPE, are a “unhelpful distraction” that could undo hard-won progress in regional counterinsurgency and peacebuilding.
It stated that while keeping strong diplomatic ties with Western friends, Nigeria has been collaborating closely with its neighbors, especially Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, to combat terrorism throughout the Lake Chad Basin.
The group urged Nigerians not to be influenced by outside provocations and praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for staying focused on infrastructure, energy development, and national security in the face of international pressure.
“Defending our dignity and sovereignty is our responsibility. The organization continued, “President Tinubu’s administration is constructing institutions that can defend citizens and bring about enduring peace.”
In order to prevent escalation and direct international cooperation toward stabilizing West Africa, the statement closed with a demand for the EU to hold ongoing discussions with both Washington and Abuja.
Nigeria has long relied on Europe as a reliable ally. We have faith that the EU’s leadership would contribute to ensuring that the international response to Nigeria’s domestic issues is guided by diplomacy rather than division. Respect, communication, and cooperation are the only ways we can work together to combat terrorism and maintain peace, the organization stated.
