The United States House of Representatives has passed a fiscal year 2027 spending bill seeking to suspend all American foreign assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government demonstrates measurable progress in protecting Christians and other vulnerable communities from violence.
The legislation, titled the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act for FY2027, was approved on Wednesday in a narrow 217-209 vote. The bill now proceeds to the US Senate, where it must be passed before it can be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
A key provision of the bill directs that 100 per cent of US foreign assistance to Nigeria be withheld until the US government certifies that the Nigerian government is taking effective steps to protect Christian communities facing religious violence.
According to the bill, the measure is aimed at “holding foreign governments and bad actors accountable for persecuting people of faith.”
It further provides for “restricting assistance to Nigeria until measurable actions are taken to protect Christian communities suffering from religious violence,” while also supporting “religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organisations delivering foreign aid.”
The provision was championed by Republican Congressman Riley Moore, alongside several lawmakers, including Jeff Steube of Florida. The proposal was first introduced in April.
Reacting after the House approved the bill, Steube wrote on his official X account:
“American taxpayers should NEVER bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered.”
Moore, who has repeatedly accused the Nigerian government of failing to curb attacks against Christians, argued that the funding restriction was necessary because, in his view, insufficient action had been taken against what he described as “Fulani Islamist terrorists in the Middle Belt.”
He maintained that the measure was designed to support Nigeria’s efforts to combat insecurity while holding the administration of President Bola Tinubu accountable if it failed to improve the protection of Christian communities.
Although the initial version of the bill proposed withholding 50 per cent of US assistance to Nigeria, Congressman Steube successfully pushed for a tougher amendment, arguing that retaining half of the funding would effectively reward the government despite ongoing security concerns.
The House adopted the amendment, raising the proposed aid suspension to 100 per cent.
The latest move comes despite continued security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States under the Trump administration.
Although President Trump suspended most foreign aid shortly after returning to office and dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington has continued limited assistance to Nigeria, particularly in counter-terrorism operations and security support.
In January, the United States approved $413.046 million for counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria and other African countries. Weeks later, it also delivered what officials described as “critical military supplies” to Nigeria.
The two countries have also conducted several joint counter-terrorism operations in recent months, including one that resulted in the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, also known as Abubakar Mainok, a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The US recently disclosed that it had recovered a significant cache of terrorist intelligence from Nigeria, which remains under analysis.
American authorities have also sanctioned several Nigerian individuals and organisations over alleged terrorism financing, including Lagos-based bureau de change operator Mukhtar Adamu, who was accused of facilitating financial transactions for the West African branch of ISIS through his foreign exchange businesses.
The proposed aid restriction follows years of criticism by some US lawmakers over attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
However, the Nigerian government, as well as several local and international human rights organisations, have consistently rejected allegations of Christian genocide, insisting that victims of insurgency, banditry and communal violence cut across religious and ethnic lines.
The bill will only become law if it is approved by the US Senate and subsequently signed by President Trump.
