U.S. Pushes PR Propaganda Through Skit Makers in Nigeria While Lining Up Military Invasion

The United States is warning of possible military action in Nigeria, while the U.S. Mission in Abuja is rolling out a cheerful social media competition celebrating American brands and culture. The contrast between Washington’s friendly public-relations push and its increasingly aggressive foreign-policy stance is raising serious questions in Nigeria about what the U.S. wants precisely.

The new campaign, called the “Made in America, Loved in Nigeria” Skit Contest, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria. Young Nigerians are being invited to produce short videos showcasing how American products or ideas enhance their daily lives. The competition, which opened on December 1, 2025, is being marketed as a means to deepen cultural and economic ties between the two countries.

But while the U.S. promotes its soft-power charm offensive, President Donald Trump has been issuing some of the harshest threats Nigeria has heard from Washington in years. In early November, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had instructed the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action” in Nigeria. Claiming that Christians were being targeted, he warned that the U.S. would intervene to “wipe out the Islamic terrorists” if Abuja didn’t act quickly. Not long after, the U.S. designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, accusing it of severe violations of religious freedom.

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This tension, between a glossy cultural campaign and the threat of military intervention, comes at a time when many Nigerians believe Washington is exerting unusual influence over the Tinubu administration. Reports circulating in political circles claim that the U.S. is now “calling the shots” on some of Nigeria’s key security decisions. These claims intensified after President Bola Tinubu accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on December 1, 2025. Although Badaru cited health reasons, the timing has fueled speculation that the departure was linked to conditions set by Washington for deeper security cooperation.

The pressure on Tinubu is also compounded by the certified U.S. court documents detailing his 1993 drug-related forfeiture case in Chicago. While Tinubu has long tried to distance himself from the matter, the resurfaced files have raised fresh concerns about his vulnerability in dealings with the U.S., especially during moments of diplomatic tension.

On the ground, those living in conflict zones say foreign intervention would likely make things worse. The U.S. troops would escalate the violence, increase civilian casualties, and deepen displacement, rather than solve the underlying problems.

As Washington pushes soft power with one hand and signals hard power with the other, Nigerians are left trying to make sense of the mixed messages and what they might mean for the country’s future.

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