Social Listening 8 October 2025
The effort to label Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in the US Senate
In response to ongoing reports of violence, Senator Ted Cruz has introduced new legislation, and a group of U.S. lawmakers is urging the State Department to officially redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The Nigerian government strongly denies allegations of religious persecution.
Sen. Ted Cruz & U.S. Lawmakers introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 and urged the Senate to redesignate Nigeria.
Their key rationale is to address “egregious violations of religious freedom”,; halt violence against Christians and other religious minorities by Islamist terrorist groups (Boko Haram, ISIS-WA, Fulani militants) and end the enforcement of blasphemy laws.
The Nigerian Government denies allegations of religious persecution and targeting Christians. Instead, Nigeria considers that violence originates from terrorism and banditry, not religious targeting; emphasises religious diversity in key appointments, and states that attacks also affect Muslims.
The Push for “Country of Particular Concern” Designation
Alongside the legislative effort, there is a concurrent push for the U.S. State Department to officially label Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
• Historical Context: The U.S. previously designated Nigeria as a CPC in December 2020 under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. This designation was removed in 2021 by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
• Current Pressure: In March 2025, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that Nigeria be reinstated on the CPC list. Following this, a group of Republican senators, including Ted Cruz, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to advocate for this redesignation, which would grant the President authority to impose specific penalties on Nigeria.
• Potential Impact: A CPC designation would place Nigeria in a category with countries such as Eritrea, Iran, China, and North Korea, and could lead to targeted sanctions or other diplomatic measures.
The situation involves deeply conflicting narratives. To form a balanced view, you may consider:
• The Scale of Violence: The statistics cited on violence against religious communities are highly contentious but remain central to the argument of U.S. lawmakers.
• Complex Drivers of Conflict: The Nigerian government and some analysts caution against a solely religious framing, highlighting other factors such as resource competition, weak governance, and widespread criminality.
• Geopolitical Context: This issue occurs amid other diplomatic tensions, such as recent U.S. restrictions on visa terms for Nigerians. However, U.S. officials state that the visa changes are based on technical and security benchmarks.
Read also: Social Listening 3 October 2025
2. Failed presidential visit sparks political fireworks in Abia State
The cancelled visit of President Bola Tinubu to Abia State on October 3, 2025, has led to significant political fallout, creating a public dispute between the state government and opposition figures, and sparking various claims about the reasons behind the cancellation.
Different parties involved have provided conflicting explanations for the cancelled visit, which has intensified the political controversy.
The Abia State Government officially announced the visit, stating the state was preparing to welcome President Tinubu to commission several road projects in Aba.
The Presidency explained a last-minute schedule change due to the President’s attendance at a funeral in Plateau State. Some reports suggest APC stakeholders advised against the visit because Governor Otti has not joined the APC.
The Abia State Government stated that the Governor personally asked the President to delay the visit because he (Otti) needed to be in Abuja for his Attorney-General’s SAN inauguration.
The contending parties are the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu, and Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, the media aide to Governor Otti.
Kalu first accused the Abia State Government of insufficient gratitude and recognition for the president’s contribution to infrastructure renewal in Abia State through his policies of subsidy removal, which increased funds to states. He alleged that Abia State receives N38 billion monthly from the FAAC allocation.
Kalu then vowed that the APC would take over Abia State in 2027 from the Labour Party.
Ekeoma responded by discussing Abia’s FAAC receipts, the increased employment of civil servants, and an additional 5,000-plus teachers for public schools. He stated, “Abia’s 2025 Year-to-date FAAC allocation (8 months), including LGA, stands at 125 Billion Naira. Meanwhile, if we were to go by Kalu’s false claim of a monthly sum of N38 billion, it would have been N304 billion. Should a Deputy Speaker of a Federal Legislature be associated with such bare-faced lies?”
Project Legitimacy and Broader Criticisms
The commissioned projects, especially the Port Harcourt Road, have become a focal point of criticism from the opposition.
• Cost Controversy: The Abia APC Renaissance Group alleged that the 5.8-kilometre Port Harcourt Road was reconstructed at a “staggering” cost of N36.5 billion, a sum they claim is grossly overpriced compared to an earlier bid of N9 billion.
• Broader Grievances: Critics have also pointed out other issues, including Governor Otti’s refusal to move to the official Government House, concerns over the treatment of Abia civil servants’ wages despite increased federal allocations, and allegations of mismanagement of funds intended for public school renovations.
The event has transitioned from a simple project commissioning into a significant political event, clearly outlining the battle lines for the upcoming 2027 elections in Abia State.
3. More engagements over PENGASSAN versus Dangote Refinery
A week after its resolution, the PENGASSAN strike action against the Dangote Refinery continues to generate intense debates.
Analysts blame an increase in the price and shortage of domestic cooking gas on the action.
Influential citizens and groups also joined in condemning PENGASSAN for the action. Notably, among them is Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a renowned former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Oshiomhole described the nationwide shutdown as an unnecessary escalation from a simple dispute with one company to a “secondary” solidarity action. He argued that the action harmed innocent Nigerians and other businesses and risked the jobs of individuals who were not involved. He suggested that new, large-scale investors like Dangote Refinery need time to mature and become stable, ensuring good jobs, and that aggressive labour action too early could “cripple” the business.
Beyond Senator Oshiomhole’s comments, the dispute between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery has drawn reactions from a wide range of stakeholders, including business associations, regional socio-political groups, and economic experts.
Business associations, such as the Nigerian Employers Consultative Group and the Centre for the Promotion of Enterprise, as well as economic analysts and regional groups like the Arewa Consultative Forum, joined in condemning the strike.
While the Arewa Forum viewed it as a security threat, analysts emphasised the negative impact on the economy.
