Nigeria could lose access to United States economic and security assistance after the US House of Representatives approved a proposal requiring the Nigerian government to demonstrate measurable progress in tackling anti-Christian violence before any funding is released.
The proposal, which now heads to the US Senate for consideration, comes days after US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia visited Abuja to discuss security cooperation with Nigerian officials.
US Lawmakers Push Tougher Conditions
The amendment requires the US Secretary of State to certify that Nigeria is making measurable progress in addressing anti-Christian violence before economic or security assistance can be approved.
The latest measure strengthens an earlier proposal that sought to withhold only half of the funding.
Republican Congressman Greg Steube, who sponsored the amendment, argued that no assistance should be released unless the conditions are met.
“If the aid conditions included in the bill are important enough to withhold half of all the funding to the Nigerian government, then they are important enough to withhold all of the funding,” Steube said.
Concerns Raised in Washington
Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Africa Subcommittee, also backed the proposal, alleging that Nigerian authorities have created conditions that allow violence against Christians and other religious minorities.
The move highlights growing concern among some US lawmakers over Nigeria’s security situation, despite recent efforts by both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Nigerian Government Rejects Allegations
The proposal emerged shortly after Frank Garcia described his meetings with Nigerian security chiefs and senior government officials in Abuja as productive during his first official visit to Africa.
However, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims that Christians are being specifically targeted in the country’s security challenges, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens across religious and ethnic groups.
The proposal is yet to become law and must still receive approval from the US Senate before any changes to US assistance for Nigeria can take effect.
Nigerian officials have created an environment that facilitates mass violence against Christians and religious minorities by imposing blasphemy and Sharia laws and looking the other way at jihadist atrocities.
The U.S. government knows the Nigerian officials responsible for…
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) July 22, 2026
