The United States Congress has urged the White House to pursue a far-reaching bilateral agreement with Nigeria focused on protecting vulnerable Christian communities, dismantling jihadist networks, and limiting Chinese and Russian influence in the region.
The proposal emerged from a joint decision by the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, shared on X by Congressman Riley Moore. In a statement titled “Ending the Persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” lawmakers praised President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), describing the move as a firm step toward holding perpetrators of violence accountable.
In October 2026, the US government announced—again—that Nigeria would be added to the State Department’s list of Countries of Particular Concern over religious freedom violations. President Trump stated on X that Nigeria would be placed on a religious freedom watchlist, alleging that Christians were facing persecution and deadly attacks.
Nigeria was first designated a CPC in 2020 under Trump. The designation was later removed by President Joe Biden shortly after he assumed office.
Earlier in February, US lawmakers also recommended visa bans and asset freezes against individuals and groups accused of violating religious freedom in Nigeria. Among those named were former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
The House Appropriations Committee commended Trump’s decision, stating that redesignating Nigeria as a CPC would compel the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities and end religious persecution.
Congressional Investigation and Findings
According to the statement, President Trump directed Rep. Moore, House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, and the Appropriations Committee to investigate reports of persecution and killings of Nigerian Christians.
Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart convened an investigative roundtable and led a congressional delegation to Nigeria. Meanwhile, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith organised hearings to gather testimony from government officials and civil society representatives.
Their joint efforts produced a series of policy recommendations. In their findings, lawmakers described Nigeria as the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian, citing ongoing attacks by armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups. They alleged that tens of thousands of Christians—including pastors and priests—had been killed, with churches and schools destroyed and widespread kidnappings reported.
The committees also criticised the enforcement of blasphemy laws in some northern states, arguing that such laws suppress dissent, target minorities, and allow convictions without due process.
While acknowledging Nigeria as an important US partner, Congress insisted the Nigerian government must demonstrate stronger political will and allocate sufficient resources to curb the violence.
At the heart of the recommendations is a proposed bilateral security and economic pact. Lawmakers urged President Trump to negotiate an agreement that would protect Christian communities, eliminate jihadist terror activities, strengthen economic cooperation, and counter the influence of China and Russia.
Under the proposed framework, Nigeria would co-fund humanitarian assistance—particularly for internally displaced persons in the predominantly Christian Middle Belt—support early-warning systems to prevent attacks, deploy capable security forces for rapid response, and remove armed militias from occupied farmlands to enable displaced communities to return home.
The committees also called for expanded security cooperation, including reducing reliance on Russian military equipment in favour of US defence systems. They recommended technical assistance programmes, including disarmament and reintegration initiatives aimed at addressing illicit weapons while supporting safer communities.
Additional proposals included backing Nigeria’s Ministry of Livestock, ranching reforms, land policy changes, improved security force recruitment, and enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation. Lawmakers further pledged to confront what they described as hostile foreign exploitation tied to illegal mining operations and militia financing.
Other measures outlined include stricter enforcement of the 2026 National Security and State Department appropriations framework, targeted sanctions, continued visa restrictions, public naming of perpetrators, review of trade leverage—including cattle exports—and a Government Accountability Office audit of US aid to Nigeria.
They also called for a National Intelligence Estimate on sectarian violence in Nigeria, consideration of designating certain militia groups as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, engagement with international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, faster Foreign Military Sales processing, and strengthened US diplomatic staffing in Nigeria.
Lawmakers described the moment following Nigeria’s CPC redesignation as a rare opportunity to reshape US–Nigeria relations and pursue what they termed a “once-in-a-generation” path toward security and stability.
