Nigeria is rushing to strengthen its diplomatic ties with the United States as it faces growing pressure from the Trump administration. The country currently lacks an ambassador in Washington and has no active lobbyist presence, leaving it exposed to political and diplomatic risks. This vacuum has become particularly concerning amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats of potential military action over alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s government, Abuja has gone more than two years without appointing an ambassador to Washington. The Nigerian government is now scrambling to fill that position as part of a broader effort to reestablish its diplomatic representation abroad. Documents reviewed by Semafor reveal that since Tinubu took office in 2023, Nigeria has had minimal lobbying activity in the U.S. capital—a significant disadvantage in a city where influence often hinges on relationships and advocacy.
Meanwhile, Biafra separatist groups have reportedly been far more active and better funded in Washington. According to filings, these groups have successfully lobbied members of Congress by emphasizing the issue of “Christian killings” in Nigeria, aligning their messaging with narratives favored by conservative Christian circles in the U.S. This has allowed them to dominate the conversation about Nigeria within certain American political spaces, leaving the Tinubu administration struggling to control its image and message abroad.
Experts have criticized Nigeria’s lack of diplomatic engagement during this critical period. A Washington-based lawyer with years of experience advising African governments called the absence of an ambassador or lobbying strategy “shocking.” The failure to maintain a presence, he argued, has weakened Nigeria’s ability to manage its international reputation and respond effectively to policy threats.
Cameron Hudson, a former White House Africa director, echoed those concerns, noting that lobbyists could have provided Tinubu’s administration with valuable insights into Washington’s shifting political landscape. “This is not an era to be casual about your diplomacy in Washington,” Hudson warned. As Nigeria scrambles to rebuild its diplomatic and lobbying network, the episode underscores the importance of maintaining strong foreign representation in an increasingly unpredictable global environment.
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