The Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Ali Ndume (APC–Borno South), has described former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments on Nigeria’s security situation as ignorant and based on misinformation.
Ndume stated this on Monday while speaking on Arise Television’s PrimeTime programme, where he said many Americans had a poor understanding of Nigeria’s realities.
“The average American is innocent,” Ndume said. “You will find one who grows up in Ohio and has never been to Chicago. That’s where the problem is — their worldview is limited, and it reflects in their opinions about other countries.”
He recalled that he once sponsored a motion in the Senate titled “Urgent Need to Correct the Misconception of Nigeria Being a CPC,” which sought to address the spread of false narratives about the country abroad.
“They said they set up a committee, but nothing was done, and the matter was treated with levity,” he added.
Ndume also faulted Western nations, particularly the U.S., for issuing strong warnings about Nigeria without considering multiple perspectives.
“One thing about them is that they issue strong warnings because they only listen to one side and ignore the other,” he said.
The senator noted that Nigeria’s security challenges affect people of all faiths and ethnicities, stressing that violence in parts of the country should not be viewed through a religious lens.
“If you look at what happened to Christian faithful in Benue recently, where about 200 people were killed and buried in a mass grave, anyone who sees that would know how gruesome it is. All lives matter,” he said.
Ndume also recalled personal experiences of insecurity in his community. “In my village, our Emir was killed by Boko Haram on the streets. In my town, about 75 elders were taken to a slaughterhouse; only one escaped,” he said.
He emphasized the need for the international community to seek balanced information about Nigeria, urging Western leaders to avoid making judgments based on biased reports.