Nigeria has expressed strong concerns over its exclusion from a United Nations panel event in New York, hosted by U.S. rapper Nicki Minaj in collaboration with the U.S. Mission to the UN, which focused on allegations of Christian persecution in the country.
The Chargé d’Affaires of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, condemned the decision, describing it as “shaving our head in our absence” — a reference to making decisions about a country without allowing it to participate.
The event, held on Tuesday at the UN headquarters, followed renewed accusations by the U.S. government that Nigeria is witnessing systematic killings of Christians. U.S. President Donald Trump recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian genocide.
Endoni rejected the allegations and criticised Nigeria’s exclusion, stating that the decision denied the country the opportunity to present its own account.
“It is important that the country accused is present and allowed to speak. You cannot take actions or make decisions concerning a nation without its presence or consent,” he said.
He also questioned why only a few countries were admitted into the discussion while the Nigerian government was left out, insisting that authorities are not ignoring attacks carried out by criminal groups.
U.S. Cites Participants’ Safety Concerns
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), U.S. Senior Adviser for African Affairs, Ambassador Patricia Mahoney, visited the Nigeria House in New York on Monday to inform Endoni about the event. She explained that only three UN member states and selected individuals — including a Nigerian pastor — were invited.
Mahoney reportedly said participants had specifically requested that no Nigerian officials be allowed for fear of possible reprisals against them or their families. She also noted that the event was classified as private.
Nigeria Warns Against “Naming and Shaming”
Endoni said the exclusion contributes to unwarranted fear and misrepresentation and urged the U.S. to adopt a more inclusive approach when addressing sensitive issues.
He stressed that Nigeria remains committed to working with the U.S. to tackle extremist violence and protect lives and property, adding that ongoing engagement between both governments will continue.
