Your Excellency,
I write as a deeply concerned citizen—one committed to the survival, honour and future prosperity of our nation. The recent public statements by former President Donald J. Trump, threatening to “wipe out terrorists and bandits wherever they exist in Nigeria,” against the backdrop of Nigeria being designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious‑freedom violations, have triggered understandable alarm, confusion and a surge of conspiracy narratives. Rather than react in panic or posture in blame, I humbly submit a strategic, comprehensive and internationally‑grounded framework that reinforces our sovereignty, restores citizen trust, and accelerates reform.
To begin, I urge you to publicly and unequivocally affirm Nigeria’s sovereignty: expressly declare that no foreign military operation will be mounted on Nigerian soil without the full consent of your government, while simultaneously clarifying our readiness to cooperate on intelligence, logistics and precision operations targeting non‑state actors who threaten our nation. Such a statement will immediately address misperceptions of looming invasion and reassure Nigerians that their government remains in command.
Next, I recommend we leverage the current external pressure to catalyse internal security reform. For example, on 13 August 2025 the U.S. State Department approved a possible foreign‑military sale of precision bombs and rockets to Nigeria valued at US$346 million. This is not merely an arms deal—it is a tool. Frame it under Nigerian command and oversight, with civilian‑protection protocols, accountability mechanisms and measurable targets to reduce mass abductions and killings especially in high‑risk states such as Zamfara, Kaduna and Benue. Data reveal that a 1 per cent increase in insecurity in Benue correlates with a 0.211 per cent drop in crop output and 0.311 per cent drop in livestock output—an empirical link between violence and economic collapse.
I further propose a national accountability and rule‑of‑law initiative. Make public quarterly performance and incident reports for security agencies, establish an independent complaints mechanism for victims of violence and displacement (between February and April 2025, Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission recorded over 40,000 displacement incidents and 1,460 human‑rights complaints). Set clear, time‑bound targets: e.g., reduce kidnappings by 30 per cent within 12 months, decrease new internal displacements by 25 per cent, increase successful prosecutions of rights‑abuse cases by 50 per cent. Transparency builds trust, deters abuse, and signals to both citizens and partners that we govern, not drift.
I urge that Your Excellency turn foreign pressure into domestic momentum. Use the global spotlight as a springboard for structural reforms: invest in community‑based early‑warning systems in conflict‑prone zones, strengthen local governance and traditional‑authority collaboration in rural areas, prioritise development in neglected regions. According to the United Nations, Nigeria continues to face a humanitarian crisis with an estimated 33 million people projected to experience food insecurity in 2025. This is not just security policy—it is national renewal.
Lastly, adopt a balanced diplomatic posture that signals Nigeria’s leadership in its own rescue. Publicly welcome assistance from all willing partners—be it China, the U.S., the African Union, ECOWAS—while insisting that any joint operations, training or intelligence cooperation occur under Nigerian oversight and command. This demonstrates both openness and strength. By doing so you shift the narrative: from victimhood or confrontation, to agency and reform.
The path ahead demands intelligence, courage and strategic clarity. Sovereignty is not only the absence of foreign intervention—it is the capacity to protect, govern and deliver for one’s people. And leadership is not simply resisting external pressure—it is converting the pressure into purposeful domestic action.
Your Excellency, the eyes of Nigerians and the world are upon you. Now is not the moment to posture or panic—it is the moment to lead. By owning the problem, demonstrating accountability and embracing cooperation on our terms, Nigeria can turn fear into reform, threats into partnership, and crisis into the blueprint for national rebirth.
Respectfully,
Comrade Jude Obuseh
A Concerned Nigerian Citizen
