US bars Nigerian officials from Nicki Minaj’s UN discussion; envoy decries exclusion

Nigeria protests after its officials were barred from a US-hosted UN event where Nicki Minaj spoke on alleged Christian persecution, sparking a diplomatic dispute (image source)

A diplomatic row has erupted after Nigerian officials said they were barred from attending a United States–hosted discussion at the UN where rapper Nicki Minaj spoke about alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, prompting sharp protests from Abuja and renewed debate over the politicisation of human rights narratives.

Syndoph Endoni, chargé d’affaires at Nigeria’s UN mission, said the exclusion “amounted to shaving our head in our absence,” arguing that decisions or statements concerning Nigeria should not be made without its presence or consent. The event at the US Mission to the United Nations featured Minaj alongside US representatives, and focused on claims that Nigerian Christians are being targeted, displaced, and killed. Nigerian diplomats contend the format denied the country a right of reply and the opportunity to present verified context on complex security challenges spanning multiple victim groups and regions.

Minaj’s remarks drew global attention, with some outlets highlighting her alignment with US political voices asserting “Christian persecution” in Nigeria. Critics of the event’s framing said the claims were overstated or lacked nuance, noting that Nigeria’s violence involves extremist groups, banditry, and intercommunal conflicts affecting diverse communities. Reports from international media underscored the controversy and the pushback from Nigerian authorities, who argue that selective narratives risk inflaming tensions and undermining cooperative security efforts.

Nigeria’s protest emphasised due process at multilateral fora, calling for inclusive engagement, transparent fact-finding, and the participation of states directly implicated by allegations. Abuja maintains that constructive dialogue requires balancing rights advocacy with credible, on-the-ground data and engagement with national institutions responsible for protection and reform. Whether the incident prompts a formal diplomatic complaint to Washington remains to be seen, but the episode has already become a flashpoint in Nigeria–US discourse on security and human rights.