WASHINGTON, District of Columbia, United States: Okay News reports that the United States Congress has urged the United States and the Federal Republic of Nigeria to negotiate a far‑reaching bilateral agreement. The agreement would seek to protect communities facing violence, dismantle jihadist terror networks, address ongoing religious persecution, and counter the expanding influence of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation in Nigeria.
The call came from two powerful bodies of the United States House of Representatives: the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. A joint statement outlining their recommendations was shared on the social media platform X on Tuesday by Congressman Riley Moore, who represents the Second Congressional District of West Virginia.
In a document titled “Ending the Persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” the lawmakers praised United States President Donald J. Trump for redesignating the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern on religious freedom. The designation is part of a list maintained by the United States Department of State, meant to highlight nations where religious groups face severe discrimination.
This is not the first time Nigeria has appeared on the list. The country was initially added in 2020 during President Trump’s first term, but was later removed after President Joseph R. Biden Jr. took office. In October 2025, the Trump administration restored Nigeria’s status as a Country of Particular Concern amid concerns over violence and attacks against religious communities.
President Trump also stated on X that Nigeria would be monitored on a religious freedom “watchlist,” claiming that Christians there were facing persecution and violent attacks. Earlier in February 2026, Congress had also recommended sanctions, including visa restrictions and asset freezes, on specific individuals and organisations accused of violating religious freedom in Nigeria. Those named included former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso; the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria; and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
The joint committee statement said: “The United States Congress commends President Trump for his decisive action to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern 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 directed Representative Moore, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, and other leaders to investigate what Congress described as the “persecution and slaughter of Nigerian Christians.” The vice chair of the Appropriations Committee, Representative Mario Díaz‑Balart of Florida, organised a fact‑finding roundtable and led a congressional delegation to Nigeria. Simultaneously, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Brian Mast of Florida, and the chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey, held public hearings and took testimony from civil society representatives and experts.
The congressional findings declared that after decades of violence, “Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.” The report stated that Christian communities in Nigeria are subjected to “ongoing violent attacks from well‑armed Fulani militias and terrorist groups,” leading to the killing of “tens of thousands of Christians, including pastors and priests,” as well as the destruction of churches, schools, and the kidnapping of community members. The lawmakers also criticised blasphemy laws in several northern Nigerian states, asserting that such laws can be used to suppress dissent, unfairly target religious minorities, and justify convictions without due process.
Even as lawmakers emphasised the severity of the situation, they stressed that the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains an important partner for the United States. They wrote that Nigeria must demonstrate greater political will by allocating its own resources to reduce and ultimately end the violence.
Central to the recommendations was the proposal for a formal security and economic agreement between the two countries. Congress wants President Trump to negotiate a pact that would not only protect vulnerable communities and defeat jihadist terror networks but also deepen economic cooperation and limit the influence of China and Russia in West Africa.
Under the proposed agreement, Nigeria would be expected to co‑fund humanitarian support, bolster early warning systems, deploy sufficient security forces for rapid response, and restore farmland ravaged by armed groups. The lawmakers also called for expanded security cooperation between the nations, including shifting away from Russian military equipment toward American defence systems, enhancing joint counter‑terrorism efforts, and providing excess United States defence equipment to Nigeria as needed.
Other recommended measures included maintaining sanctions against those responsible for religious violence, continuing visa restrictions, improving accountability in the disbursement of United States aid, and conducting an audit of United States assistance to Nigeria. The lawmakers also suggested collaboration with other countries such as the French Republic, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.
The congressional committees described the recommendations as a “once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity for real change,” coming on the heels of Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern.
Following that designation, the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sent a high‑level delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, to the United States to address concerns about religiously motivated violence. The Nigerian government acknowledged the ongoing violence but maintained that it was not driven by religious animosity.
In December 2025, the United States, in coordination with the Nigerian government and through the United States Africa Command, conducted operations against terrorist enclaves in Nigeria. The United States has also deployed military personnel to train Nigerian security forces and improve intelligence sharing.
The Federal Government of Nigeria welcomed the congressional report as an opportunity to strengthen security cooperation with the United States. In a statement, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Mohammed Idris, said the government remains committed to protecting all Nigerians regardless of religion or region.
“Nigeria acknowledges that parts of the country continue to face serious security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts that have tragically affected many communities,” Mr. Idris said. He emphasised that the government does not have a policy of religious persecution and that the violence confronting security agencies is rooted in complex criminal and communal dynamics.
Mr. Idris outlined government efforts to improve security operations, intelligence sharing, and community peacebuilding. He also highlighted assistance for internally displaced persons and reiterated Nigeria’s interest in constructive cooperation with international partners, while respecting Nigeria’s constitution and sovereignty.
