Pastor Femi Lazarus of Light Nation Church in Abuja has condemned United States policy toward Nigeria, recalling that during President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure the U.S. imposed an informal arms embargo that hindered Nigeria’s ability to obtain weapons needed to combat terrorism in the northeast, especially in the Sambisa forest.
He argues that this restriction left Nigerian security forces under‑equipped and forced them to rely on improvised solutions while insurgents expanded their foothold.
According to Lazarus, the United States now appears eager to intervene under the pretext of regional stability, but he believes the real motive is to sow division within Nigeria for strategic advantage.
He links this alleged shift to domestic controversies such as the “Justice for Ned” campaign and the case of Uche Montana, suggesting that external actors may be exploiting these issues to justify a more intrusive presence and portray Nigeria as dependent on foreign assistance.
In his closing remarks, the pastor urged Nigerians to safeguard national sovereignty and to scrutinize any foreign involvement that does not serve the country’s long‑term security interests, warning that history will judge those who allow external powers to dictate Nigeria’s counter‑terrorism agenda.
