Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has described the U.S. military airstrikes on Islamist militants in Sokoto State on Christmas Day as a “blessing.”
Speaking to Fox News Digital during a week-long visit to the United States, Tinubu said the intervention was welcomed by Nigeria as it continues to confront insurgent groups and armed criminal networks.
“The intervention of the U.S. was quite a welcome development,” she said. “Nigeria is looking forward to collaboration with the U.S. on security issues. We are expecting that there will be more.”
The airstrikes, which reportedly targeted Islamist militants in north-west Nigeria, have sparked debate in U.S. political circles over religious violence and security in Africa’s most populous nation.
Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges are not confined to one faith or region.
“Terrorist groups hide in the forest, and also bandits and other people are kidnapping for ransom. We are concerned about our people’s safety,” she said.
She said measures have been taken by the federal government, including a nationwide security emergency, plans to recruit 50,000 additional police officers, and the redeployment of more than 11,000 officers from VIP protection duties to conflict-affected areas.
Dialogue With Washington
Responding to criticism over attacks on Christian communities, Tinubu said the scrutiny has created room for dialogue.
“We have that attention. We have the conversation going. And we are expecting that there will be more. You know, it’s going to yield better fruit for us, and both for us and also America,” she explained.
She added that meetings with senior U.S. officials were used to clarify the complexities of Nigeria’s security landscape. “We live in Nigeria. We know the situation on the ground,” she said.
Tinubu, a former senator and ordained Christian pastor, is married to President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim. Their partnership reflects Nigeria’s religious diversity. She also leads the Renewed Hope Initiative, a non-profit aligned with the administration’s social programmes.
Security and Investment
Beyond security, Tinubu linked stability to economic recovery and foreign investment. Nigeria holds reserves of lithium, cobalt, and other critical minerals that have attracted U.S. interest amid efforts to counter China’s influence in Africa’s mining sector.
“We’re doing all we can to make sure that when investors come, they can feel comfortable and their investment can yield,” she said.
Nigeria, home to more than 230 million people and over 500 languages, has faced decades of corruption, economic mismanagement, and insurgent violence.
Groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and criminal bandit networks have contributed to tens of thousands of deaths over the past decade.
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