The House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs of the United States Congress have recommended a series of measures aimed at addressing what they described as the “persecution of Christians” in Nigeria.
The recommendations followed the formal submission of a report to the White House outlining the committee’s findings and proposals.
The submission came after President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
In the report released on Monday by committee chairman Riley Moore, lawmakers proposed several steps to address the alleged crisis and improve security and religious freedom.
One key recommendation calls on Nigeria to distance itself from Russia in the security sphere, including divesting from Russian military hardware and instead procuring U.S. defence equipment through sales and financing arrangements.
The committees also proposed a sweeping bilateral agreement between Washington and Abuja aimed at protecting vulnerable Christian communities, eliminating jihadist terror networks, and countering Chinese and Russian influence in Nigeria.
The report further suggested blocking beef and other cattle-related exports to certain countries as a measure to compel Fulani herdsmen to disarm amid reports of attacks on Christian communities.
Congressman Moore confirmed the delivery of the report through a statement on his official social media account, emphasizing that the meeting at the White House represented a culmination of extensive bipartisan efforts. Moore highlighted that the report is informed by expert testimonials, congressional hearings, and two fact-finding missions to Nigeria involving bipartisan delegations.
One mission took the U.S. team to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Benue State, where they met with victims of violence and engaged with high-ranking Nigerian officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Moore noted that these interactions provided crucial insights into the scale of insecurity and the desperate challenges faced by Christian communities in certain regions of Nigeria.
“I travelled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and witnessed firsthand the atrocities faced by Christians and the instability that the Nigerian government must combat,” Moore remarked.
The report advocates for a bilateral security agreement between the United States and Nigeria, aimed at safeguarding vulnerable communities and dismantling extremist networks. Additionally, it advises the U.S. to withhold specific funding until the Nigerian government demonstrates tangible progress in addressing violence. This includes sanctions and visa restrictions on individuals or groups identified as complicit in religious persecution.
The proposed measures also recommend technical assistance for Nigerian authorities to tackle violence linked to armed Fulani militias and suggest the repeal of discriminatory Sharia and blasphemy laws. Lawmakers are urging coordinated actions with international partners, including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to enhance efforts against religious persecution.
Moore characterized the White House meeting as productive, praising Trump for the recent redesignation and asserting that strengthened cooperation between Washington and Abuja is in both nations’ interests. “Together, we must confront these pressing security issues and put an end to violence against Christians,” he reiterated.
This development underlines a significant shift in diplomatic focus on Nigeria’s internal security issues, paving the way for possible changes in U.S. policy towards Africa’s most populous nation. Reports suggest that Nigeria’s record on religious freedom has frequently been a point of contention in U.S.-Nigeria relations.
During Trump’s first term, Nigeria had been designated as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020 under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act. This designation was lifted in 2021 by President Joe Biden, a decision that drew criticism from several American lawmakers, including Chris Smith, who claimed that violence against Christians has reached alarming levels.
Trump’s recent reinstatement of the designation has reintroduced Nigeria to Washington’s religious monitoring list, initiating a formal congressional probe into claims of religious persecution and insecurity. Moore and Cole are tasked with leading this investigation, generating significant reactions within Nigeria’s political arena.
Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has cautioned against the influence of external narratives that could tarnish Nigeria’s international standing. He stated that the complexity of insecurity in Nigeria is not solely rooted in religious factors.
The recommendations within the report echo previous U.S. proposals, which reportedly suggested designating figures like Kwankwaso and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association for targeted sanctions. This has sparked further dissent among northern political leaders and civil society, who argue that linking these individuals to religious persecution is both misleading and dangerous. Critics contend that the region’s instability primarily results from banditry, communal conflicts, and terrorism rather than systematic religious targeting.
Nigerian officials maintain that ongoing violence is attributable to terrorism and social discord, rather than state-sponsored religious violence. The report’s submission represents a significant step in shaping U.S. policy since Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern.
With Congress now outlining possible diplomatic and financial repercussions, the future of U.S.-Nigeria relations may depend heavily on how both governments navigate the need for security cooperation alongside America’s renewed focus on religious freedom accountability.
— Reported by Nexio News
