Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy in Abuja, David Young, over the alleged racist remarks made by President Donald Trump.

Trump, speaking during a bipartisan Oval Office meeting on immigration reforms last week, described African nations as ‘shithole countries’.

The US president, however, denied that he was a racist during an interview with White House reporters on Sunday night.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, summoned the US envoy to his office to seek clarification on the remarks.

A statement signed by the Ministry’s spokesman, Tope Elias-Fatile, read: “Ambassador Young pointed out that there were contradicting accounts by those present as to the veracity or otherwise of the substance of the remarks.

“He stressed that his government continues to hold the people of Nigeria in very high regard and valued the warm relations and excellent cooperation between the two countries and looked forward to building on this relationship for the mutual benefit of the two countries.”

The US ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, is currently out of the country.