The Federal Government says it is in discussions with the United States following recent comments by former US President Donald Trump suggesting possible military action against the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told Sky News that diplomatic efforts are underway to ease rising tensions between both nations.
“Channels of communication have been opened,” Idris said. “I can confirm that we are talking with them, and I think they are beginning to understand the situation better.”
He added that much of the misunderstanding stems from a lack of awareness about Nigeria’s internal security challenges and the complexity of its fight against insurgency.
Mr Idris insisted that Nigeria had not lost any territory to Boko Haram and described the fight against terrorism as “not a conventional war.”
The minister also alleged that some US lobbying groups have been influenced by a proscribed separatist movement seeking to misrepresent Nigeria’s situation to American policymakers.
The remarks come amid heightened diplomatic tension after Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious-freedom abuses preceding.
The comments drew global attention and concern from Nigerian officials.