Tinubu’s appearance at the high-profile gathering, a move seen as Nigeria’s engaging its soft powers, comes months after Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians, a move that sharply escalated diplomatic tensions between Abuja and Washington.

Following the redesignation, Trump also threatened possible military action in Africa’s most populous nation, citing concerns over religious freedom. The Nigerian government strongly rejected allegations of Christian persecution, insisting that the country’s insecurity is driven by terrorism, banditry and organised criminality rather than religious targeting.

In response to the CPC designation, Nigerian officials intensified high-level diplomatic engagements with the United States, seeking to counter the genocide narrative and reassure Washington of Abuja’s commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.

Those engagements culminated in a major security development on Christmas Day, when the federal government confirmed US airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State. The strikes marked the first publicly acknowledged US military action on Nigerian soil. The government said the operation targeted terrorist hideouts and recorded no civilian casualties.

Beyond security cooperation, Nigeria has also stepped up efforts to shape its image in Washington.

In December, the Nigerian government, through Aster Legal, a law firm based in Kaduna State, hired DCI Group, a Washington-based consulting and lobbying firm, under an initial six-month contract valued at $4.5 million, paying $750,000 per month, according to filings with the US Department of Justice. The filings indicate that a similar amount would be due if the contract is renewed for another six months.

Under the agreement, DCI Group is mandated to brief US government officials on Nigeria’s efforts to protect both Christians and Muslims, counter allegations of genocide, and sustain American support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations across West Africa.