The US House Appropriations Committee renews its commitment to addressing religious persecution in Nigeria, citing security concerns, congressional visits, and policy actions.
The United States House Appropriations Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to combating religious persecution worldwide, placing Nigeria at the center of renewed congressional focus. The committee declared that the United States “will not look away as innocent lives are stolen,” underscoring the urgency of addressing religious violence in the country.
The statement was issued on Wednesday via the committee’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, emphasizing that religious freedom remains a core priority under the National Security and Related Programs (NSRP) bill.
US Congressional Focus on Religious Freedom in Nigeria
According to the committee, a delegation of US appropriators conducted an on-the-ground mission to Nigeria under the directive of President Donald Trump. The mission was designed to inform a congressional report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and to guide future policy recommendations.
“Directed by @POTUS, Appropriators led an on-the-ground mission to inform a report on Christian persecution in Nigeria and guide policy recommendations,” the committee stated, adding that religious freedom and atrocity response are central to the NSRP bill.
The visit formed part of broader US efforts to assess religious violence, strengthen oversight, and shape future congressional action on Nigeria-related security issues.
Nigeria–US Security Consultations and Counterterrorism Talks
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed that he hosted the US delegation as part of ongoing security consultations between both countries. He explained that the discussions built on earlier meetings held in Washington, DC, and focused on:
- Counterterrorism cooperation
- Regional security and stability
- Strengthening the existing strategic security partnership between Nigeria and the United States
These talks come amid growing international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Congressional Delegation Visits Conflict-Affected Regions
Representative Riley Moore, a member of the US delegation, described the trip as a “very productive visit to Nigeria” in a post on X. During the visit, Moore met with Tiv and Catholic leaders in Benue State, one of the regions most affected by recurrent communal and religious violence.
The meetings were aimed at gaining firsthand insight into the human impact of insecurity and religious conflict.
Diplomatic Tensions Over Nigeria’s Redesignation
The congressional visit coincides with escalating diplomatic tensions following the Trump administration’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious freedom violations. The move reignited debate over potential consequences, including sanctions and military cooperation implications.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has consistently rejected the allegations, maintaining that insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation.
On November 20, Ribadu met with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon to discuss coordinated strategies for addressing Nigeria’s security crisis. On the same day, the US House Subcommittee on Africa held a public hearing examining the implications of Nigeria’s CPC redesignation.