WASHINGTON, United States — The United States administration of President Donald Trump will closely monitor the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, US Congressman Riley Moore said on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
Okay News reports that Moore made the remarks during an interview with NoireTV regarding the upcoming elections. Asked whether the United States could do more to support credible elections in Nigeria, Moore said, “What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to.”
The lawmaker disclosed that the US House of Representatives was considering an appropriations bill containing provisions relating to Nigeria, particularly on religious freedom and security assistance. Moore said, “We’re working on Chris (Smith)’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor of that bill. But I’d say, more importantly, what people need to pay attention to is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor today.”
According to the lawmaker, the proposed legislation contains language on the persecution of Christians and places restrictions on security assistance to the Nigerian government. Moore said, “There’s a lot of language that I put on that bill that’s inside of it that relates to Nigeria and the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and steps that they have to take.”
Moore indicated that he would continue to engage the administration on issues concerning Nigeria. Moore said, “I continue to work with the administration on next steps that we’re going to take. I’m actually going to see President Trump tonight. I’ll be having dinner with him and some other members, so yeah, I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him.”
The lawmaker is a co-sponsor of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, which was introduced alongside Congressman Chris Smith in February. The proposed legislation seeks to require the US Secretary of State to submit periodic reports to Congress on efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria. The bill proposes assessments of compliance with international religious freedom obligations, foreign assistance, and measures taken by the government to protect vulnerable communities.
The US House Appropriations Committee in April 2026 passed provisions in its annual State Department funding bill that impose stricter oversight and conditions on financial assistance to Nigeria. The bill stipulates that 50 per cent of funds earmarked for Nigeria under foreign assistance titles will be withheld until it is certified that the government is taking effective steps to curb religious violence. The text further states that funds must support investigations and prosecutions of violence committed by Fulani militia groups and facilitate the safe return of displaced persons.
