Tunde Bakare Claims Trump’s Nigeria Agenda Is Fuelled by Oil, Minerals and Geopolitical Power
Pastor Tunde Bakare has suggested that the Trump administration’s heightened focus on Nigeria is rooted in America’s pursuit of key resources and strategic advantages in emerging global technologies.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address in Lagos, the Citadel Global Community Church overseer said Nigeria’s oil reserves, mineral wealth and relevance in future tech supply chains make the country an inevitable point of interest for President Donald Trump’s style of governance. He linked the development to the US government’s decision to relist Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom and Trump’s recent remarks on the rising violence across Middle Belt communities.
Bakare explained that he anticipated this shift long before it happened, recalling that after Trump’s 2024 victory he received what he described as a symbolic revelation pointing toward a renewed American push in Nigeria driven by geopolitical calculations. According to him, “Nigeria’s oil wealth and other mineral resources will be critical to the Trump presidency, as will our role in the value chain of emerging technologies.”
He warned that foreign pressure on Nigeria’s delicate religious landscape could heighten tensions if the government responds emotionally rather than strategically. He urged the authorities to prioritise economic diplomacy and clear policy direction, saying Trump’s approach to power often turns threats into negotiation opportunities.
Addressing the wider security crisis, Bakare said the unending assaults in the Middle Belt, North-West and South-East reveal the depth of Nigeria’s internal fractures, leaving many communities feeling unprotected and ignored. He criticised lawmakers and foreign affairs officials for reacting slowly and placing political interests above national stability.
Bakare outlined several steps he believes are necessary to restore order, including stronger military engagement, community-driven policing under federal oversight, deployment of veterans and paramilitary personnel, improved surveillance technology and closer security collaboration with the United States. He also called for a victims’ register and a nationwide reconciliation effort led by President Bola Tinubu.
