Nigeria: Religion, Power, and Peacebuilding

Nigeria: Religion, Power, and Peacebuilding

From Into Africa by CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

February 27, 2026 · 57 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of Nigeria's redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern and explores the intersection of religion, power, and peace in Nigeria.

Late last year, the U.S redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a move that reignited fierce global debate and intensified an already complex moment in U.S.–Nigeria relations. U.S. military air strikes on Christmas that targeted an ISIS-affiliated terrorist group in northwest Nigeria, which the U.S. accused of persecuting Christians, further illustrates these complicated and evolving dynamics. What does this CPC redesignation mean for the millions of people living in Nigeria? Is this a necessary wake-up call for accountability or a surface-level solution to a deeply rooted complex crisis of political power and security? In this episode, Oge is joined by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja and Dr. Usman Bugaje, senior adviser to the Sultan of Sokoto, to unpack the nexus of religion, power, and the desperate search for peace in one of the world’s most religiously vibrant countries.

People in this episode

Host: Oge

Guests: Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Dr. Usman Bugaje

Topics covered

  • Nigeria
  • Religion
  • Power
  • Peacebuilding
  • U.S.-Nigeria relations
  • Terrorism
  • Accountability

Keywords

  • Nigeria
  • CPC redesignation
  • religion
  • peacebuilding
  • U.S. relations
  • terrorism
  • accountability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: U.S., ISIS

Places: Nigeria, Abuja, Sokoto

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