By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Presidency has denied reports claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will visit the White House on Tuesday for a meeting with United States Vice President J.D. Vance.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described the report as “false and misleading” in a statement posted on X on Monday.
The clarification follows heightened speculation surrounding diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United States, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened possible military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution and killings of Christians.
Trump had recently designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing continued violence against Christians and what he described as the government’s failure to protect religious minorities.
However, the Nigerian government has strongly rejected the allegations, insisting that no religious group is being persecuted in the country.
Responding to the report, Ajayi said the story first published by Sahara Reporters was entirely fabricated and has fueled “uninformed commentary” about President Tinubu’s diplomatic schedule.
He clarified that if the Nigerian President were to visit the White House, it would be for a meeting with the U.S. President, not the Vice President.
“There is a Sahara Reporters story that President Tinubu is going to the U.S. on Tuesday to see U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. That story is not true,” Ajayi stated.
“If President Tinubu is going to the White House, he won’t be going to see a Vice President.”
