The United States Congress has unveiled sweeping recommendations targeting Nigeria over the persecution of Christians, calling for sanctions, enhanced security cooperation, and a bilateral agreement aimed at ending religious violence.
In a document titled “Ending The Persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” issued under the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congress commended President Donald Trump for his “decisive action to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” in a bid to hold perpetrators accountable and compel the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities.
The document stated: “The United States Congress commends President Trump for his decisive action to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) to hold perpetrators of violence to account and compel the Government of Nigeria to protect vulnerable communities and end religious persecution.”
According to the report, President Trump called on Congressman Riley Moore, Chairman Tom Cole, and the House Appropriations Committee to investigate and produce a report on the persecution and slaughter of Nigerian Christians.
“To examine the facts, Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart hosted an investigative roundtable and led a Congressional Delegation to Nigeria and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith held a hearing to gather evidence from government and civil society witnesses. The close collaboration culminated in the following recommendations,” the statement read.
Nigeria ‘Deadliest Place’ to Be a Christian
Under its findings, Congress described Nigeria as “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” alleging that believers are subjected to violent attacks from “well-armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups,” resulting in “the death and murder of tens of thousands of Christians, including pastors and priests, the destruction of thousands of churches and schools, as well as kidnappings.”
The document further claimed that blasphemy laws in northern Nigeria are used “to silence speech and dissent, target Christians and minorities, and justify so-called ‘convictions’ without due process.”
It added that President Trump’s action, combined with congressional attention, has created “a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change to address this two-decades-long crisis.”
“Although the Government of Nigeria is a key partner for the United States, such government must demonstrate the political will, including by allocating their own financial resources, to immediately reduce and then eliminate the violence. The United States and Nigeria should take this moment to redefine a new strategic partnership to make America – and Nigeria – safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” the report stated.
Proposed Bilateral Agreement, Sanctions
Among its key recommendations, Congress urged the United States to strike a bilateral agreement with Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities, eliminate jihadist terror activity, expand economic cooperation, and counter adversaries in the region, including the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian Federation.
The agreement, it said, should include commitments by the Nigerian government to co-fund donor-supported humanitarian assistance, prioritise internally displaced persons (IDPs) — particularly in the predominantly Christian Middle Belt — and deploy capable security forces to prevent attacks and kidnappings.
It also called for the removal of Fulani militias from confiscated farmland, voluntary return of displaced communities, expansion of security cooperation with the United States, and technical support for demobilisation and disarmament programmes.
Other proposals include strengthening Nigeria’s criminal justice system, improving anti-money laundering frameworks to disrupt terror financing networks, and enhancing the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.
Congress further recommended invoking and publicly announcing CPC Presidential Directives to “name and shame perpetrators of violence,” implementing sanctions against individuals or groups that participate in or tolerate violence against Christians, and continuing visa restrictions for offenders.
The document also demanded the repeal of sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws, a review of leverage points to compel Fulani herdsmen to disarm — including blocking beef exports to countries such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal — and expediting U.S. foreign military sales to Nigeria.
Additionally, it called for a National Intelligence Estimate on Nigeria’s sectarian and communal violence, potential designation of certain Fulani militia groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, and collaboration with international partners including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.
The recommendations signal heightened U.S. scrutiny of Nigeria’s security and religious freedom record, potentially reshaping diplomatic and security relations between both countries in the months ahead.
