Pastor Tunde Bakare has linked the renewed focus of President Donald Trump’s administration on Nigeria to Washington’s pursuit of oil, strategic minerals and a foothold in emerging global technologies
Delivering his State of the Nation Address in Lagos on Sunday, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church said Nigeria’s natural resources and its future relevance in high-tech supply chains fit directly into what he described as Trump’s “transactional” approach to global politics.
His comments come after the US redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom violations and after Trump issued sharp remarks about recurrent violent attacks in the Middle Belt.
Bakare said he had long anticipated heightened American interest. He recounted that shortly after Trump won the 2024 election, he had what he termed a symbolic revelation pointing to a shift in US geopolitical calculations involving Nigeria. In his words, “It was clear to us that President Donald Trump was going to have a particular interest in Nigeria. Nigeria’s oil wealth and other mineral resources will be critical to the Trump presidency, as will our role in the value chain of emerging technologies.”
He warned that foreign commentary on Nigeria’s sensitive religious divisions could inflame tensions if not handled with caution, adding that Abuja should prioritise an economic response instead of escalating diplomatic disputes. According to him, “President Donald Trump has proven to be a transactional leader whose threats are usually invitations to the negotiating table.”
Bakare also used the occasion to highlight deep structural weaknesses exposed by persistent insecurity across the Middle Belt, North-West and South-East. He said communities repeatedly targeted by violent groups feel abandoned by the state.
He criticised the National Assembly and Nigeria’s diplomatic establishment for failing to anticipate crises and focusing more on political positioning than national security.
To restore stability, Bakare proposed a two-track approach: strong military operations alongside reconciliation efforts. He called for a victims’ register, a formal national apology led by President Bola Tinubu, and new security structures such as community-based policing under federal oversight, expanded deployment of veterans and paramilitary personnel, and the adoption of advanced surveillance tools. He also urged the government to deepen security collaboration with the United States.
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