The European Union has reaffirmed its respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, pledging continued cooperation in peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue, and human rights protection while distancing itself from external political pressures, particularly following recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, made this known in Lagos during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday. He clarified that the bloc’s position toward Nigeria is shaped by its long-standing partnership, not by the views or policies of other countries.
“Our position is one of solidarity with Nigeria solidarity with victims of violence, with authorities working to protect citizens, and with the Nigerian people who overwhelmingly desire peaceful coexistence beyond ethnic and religious divides,” Mignot said.
His comments come days after Trump called on Washington to cut off assistance to Nigeria, accusing the government of anti-Christian violence and urging the U.S. State Department to re-designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
EU Stands by Partnership, Rejects External Influence
Ambassador Mignot stressed that the European Union and its member states fully respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and its constitutional commitment to religious neutrality.
He added that the EU remains ready to strengthen cooperation with Nigeria in the areas of peace, security, and defence, engaging all stakeholders including civil society groups, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in ongoing efforts to promote stability.
“We continue to implement several peacebuilding initiatives across the country to promote peaceful coexistence,” he said.
“We also support programmes on deradicalisation, demobilisation, and reintegration of ex-members of non-state armed groups in the North-East.”
Commitment to Human Rights and Religious Freedom
Mignot reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to protecting minority communities and upholding freedom of religion and belief, describing Nigeria’s legal framework for human rights as robust, though not without challenges.
“The situation is not perfect, as in any country, but there exists a constitutional basis for the protection of human rights,” he stated.
“It is up to Nigerian authorities and society as a whole to uphold and strengthen this environment of peaceful coexistence.”
The ambassador noted that the EU’s partnership with Nigeria is built on mutual respect and shared interests, not on conditionality or interference.
“Our engagement with Nigeria is steady and predictable. It is not driven by what others do but by a shared interest in a stable, prosperous, and democratic Nigeria,” Mignot explained.
Strategic Cooperation on the Horizon
Mignot also revealed that a peace, security, and defence dialogue between Nigeria and the EU will soon be held to deepen strategic cooperation and enhance mutual understanding on regional stability.
He emphasised that the EU’s guiding principle remains to help Nigeria reinforce its own stability and prosperity, adding that the country’s future “lies firmly in the hands of Nigerians themselves.”
The ambassador’s remarks underscore the EU’s effort to maintain a balanced and independent foreign policy toward Nigeria, amid renewed geopolitical attention on Africa’s largest democracy.