Nigeria Through Trump’s Lens: How True Is the “Disgraced Country” Tag, and What Next?
Nigeria Through Trump’s Lens: How True Is the “Disgraced Country” Tag, and What Next?
By: Da-Silva.O. Johnson
TEC News| Abuja | 1st November, 2025.
Donald Trump’s harsh verdict on Nigeria struck global nerves — but beyond the insult lies an opportunity for the nation to reform, rebrand, and reclaim its dignity.
“Nations are not defined by what others call them, but by how they respond.” Da-Silva Johnson.
When the U.S. President Donald Trump recently referred to Nigeria as a “disgraced country,” the statement ricocheted through diplomatic circles and social media. His words, as usual, were blunt and unapologetic. Yet beneath the sting of his rhetoric lies a challenge that Nigeria cannot ignore: How did Africa’s most populous nation come to be seen this way, and what must it do to restore its honour?
The Meaning Behind Trump’s Words
Trump’s outburst stemmed from his claim that Nigeria has failed to protect Christians and curb religious violence. He went as far as suggesting possible U.S. sanctions or intervention — an extreme reaction that drew global attention.
His statement reflects more than religious concern; it mirrors a wider perception of Nigeria as a country struggling with governance, security, and moral authority. The world sees Nigeria’s vast potential — but also its inability, so far, to turn that potential into peace and progress.
Why Nigeria Appears “Disgraced” in the Global Eye
1. Enduring insecurity:
Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers, and extremist groups continue to terrorise citizens. In many communities either rural or urban, citizens are been picked anywhere and anytime for abduction. Some returns safe after Ransome of huge amount of money and some dies in their den or even killed after Ransome or before it. Many fear daily and others live with no options to the situations as it seems nothing can the government do anymore to over power the bandits and perpetrators. To the outside world, this signals weak control and failed leadership.
2. Corruption and governance failure:
Nigeria’s corruption record remains a stain. Billions vanish from public coffers while schools, hospitals, and infrastructure decay. Visit the hospitals and you see a lot of issues and lapses unexplained. Schools where everyone appears to anchor knowledge are not better. Peep through the activities under energy and you get angry per second. The huge bills Nigerians are charged and the available electricity in homes and establishments. Meter crisis, transformer vandalism, poles collapse and many other unending excuses have denied homes the same services promised. To foreign observers, the pattern looks systemic, not accidental or any other excuse.
3. Religious and ethnic tension:
Trump’s criticism focuses on Christian persecution, but violence affects all faiths. Yet repeated attacks, especially in the North, feed a perception that government responses are inconsistent or indifferent.
4. Decline in African leadership:
Once a proud continental voice, Nigeria’s influence in West Africa has dimmed. Political uncertainty and inward policies have shrunk its moral authority on regional issues. Individual esteem has not just become affected and gone low but we are invariably having national low esteem.
5. Poor communication and global branding:
The world often hears about Nigeria through corruption scandals, visa bans, and violence — rarely through the success of its entrepreneurs, creatives, or innovators. That silence costs the country respect.
The issues are many ranging from political impunity , indifference within the legislative and other issues confronting national dignity.
But Is Trump Entirely Right?
For me, it is a No — not entirely.
His description is an exaggeration, but it stings because it touches a wound we already know exists. Nigeria is not disgraced by nature; it is disfigured by neglect. Millions of Nigerians wake daily to build, create, and survive against the odds. They are the evidence that this nation is not a failure, but a promise waiting to be fulfilled.
Trump’s language may be offensive, but the deeper truth is this: the world judges us by our weaknesses because we have not yet let our strengths shine through.
What Nigeria Must Do Next
It is really not a time to go weak under what many tagged as insult from Trump but to look within and do the needful. Nigeria is described as a Disgraced nation should not make us begin to hurl insults on Trump but to compare words with certain realities. Are there disgraceful deeds in our personal conducts, homes and etc? Our children , the youth and even adult perpetrating creativity that are dirty and yet feel no remorse if rebuked or corrected. The insult should not be the focus but the things to prove wrong the insult and correct things as needful. What we must do next include :
1. Reform governance, not just rhetoric.
The real response to insult is performance. When government becomes transparent, justice is swift, education reforms, politics focuses on dividends, public service delivers results, security operative ensures safety above lips service, perception will follow progress.
2. Protect all faiths with equal strength.
Religious violence must be met with consistent justice. The state must prove that no life — Christian, Muslim, or traditional — is worth less than another. When this is stopped , the result would be conspicuous to all .
3. Rebuild security and restore trust.
The people’s confidence in the state’s ability to protect them is the foundation of national image. Investment in community policing, intelligence, and social stability is essential. The govenment should be proactive and ensure swift response even when attack is carried out anywhere.
4. Rebrand Nigeria with truth and pride.
Our foreign missions, creative industry, and media must tell Nigeria’s story differently — a nation of thinkers, builders, and dreamers. The world must hear about innovation, not just insurgency. The press should impress with good news and not just bad news. And authority should allow the professionalism practice of journalism and not interfere, intimidate and supress the truth. Instead of fighting reporters that seems to expose unliked content, the govenment should daily focus on good works and prevent any act considered not good for public consumption.
5. Inspire civic responsibility.
A nation’s dignity begins at home. Nigerians must model the honesty, discipline, and unity we demand from our leaders. Redemption is both governmental and personal. Do not be a crook as an individual figure and be demanding saintism from leadership figures.
Conclusion: From Disgrace to Grace
“The insult is not the wound; the inaction that follows it is.”
Trump’s remark should not drive outrage alone — it should ignite reform. Nigeria has the strength, youth, and vision to rise above judgment. What we need now is the courage to do so.
When we fix our governance, secure our people, and rebuild our integrity, no foreign leader will have the right — or reason — to call Nigeria disgraced. We will have written a new story: one of dignity, reform, and national rebirth.
This is a clarion call not just of the govenment but every individual in Nigeria. Collectively, we can rewrite our stories and the global perception about this country can become better .
Da-Silva.O. Johnson is the National President of National Interest Network, an advocacy group for a better nation and the Lead Director, Human Enhancement Institute known as HEI Nigeria and a regular voice on national matters. He can be reached on 07013276773.
