Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has alluded to the ongoing sweeping security reforms undertaken by the Federal Government, while acknowledging that “there is a lot to be done” to stabilise the country.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital on Friday during a week-long visit to Washington, D.C., Mrs Tinubu addressed diplomatic concerns, security cooperation with the United States, and criticism from some U.S. lawmakers over violence affecting Christian communities in Nigeria.
Her remarks follow public praise from former U.S. President Donald Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, where he described her as a “very respected woman” while acknowledging her dual role as Nigeria’s First Lady and an ordained pastor.
In late 2025, the United States designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged attacks on Christians, a move the Nigerian government rejected as inaccurate, insisting that insecurity in the country is driven by terrorism and criminality affecting citizens across religious and ethnic lines.
During the interview, Mrs Tinubu described America’s Christmas Day strike on Islamist militants in northwest Nigeria as a positive development.
“The intervention of the U.S. was quite a welcome development,” she said, signalling that Nigeria is open to further cooperation in confronting insurgents and criminal gangs.
Responding to claims by some U.S. lawmakers that a “Christian genocide” is ongoing in Nigeria, the First Lady said the government had used engagements in Washington to clarify realities on the ground.
“We’ve been able to educate them more about the situation on ground. We live in Nigeria. We know that this is a democracy,” she said, noting that political narratives often shape international perceptions.
Mrs Tinubu said the administration inherited both economic and security challenges but has initiated reforms aimed at long-term stability.
According to her, President Bola Tinubu has replaced service chiefs as part of efforts to recalibrate the security architecture. She disclosed that the government has approved the recruitment of 50,000 additional police officers and 24,000 soldiers to strengthen manpower nationwide.
She further revealed that 10,000 forest guards, previously unarmed, have now been authorised to bear arms to secure forested areas often used as hideouts by terrorists and bandits.
In addition, 11,566 police officers who had been assigned to VIP protection duties have been recalled and redeployed to flashpoints across the country, including Plateau, Benue and Taraba states.
“We hear what the world is saying. We are concerned about our people’s safety. Nigeria is a country that encourages freedom of religion, and that is entrenched in our Constitution,” she said.
Beyond security, Mrs Tinubu linked stability to economic recovery, noting that the government’s removal of fuel subsidy — a policy she described as unprecedented, and renewed domestic refining capacity are helping to stabilise exchange rates and reduce dependence on fuel imports.
“We are trying to make sure that insecurity we can tackle. There is so much work to be done,” she said.
The diplomatic engagement comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to balance domestic reforms with international partnerships, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism, religious freedom, and economic recovery.
While acknowledging criticism, Mrs Tinubu maintained that the government is focused on practical measures rather than rhetoric.
“We have to partner with other countries who mean well for Nigeria,” she said, adding that sustained collaboration would be key to addressing insecurity and building long-term national stability.
