The United States Congress has called for a sweeping bilateral agreement between Washington and Abuja aimed at protecting vulnerable Christian communities, eliminating jihadist terror networks, and countering Chinese and Russian influence in Nigeria.
The recommendations were contained in a joint decision by the House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which was posted on X by Congressman Riley Moore on Tuesday.
In the statement titled “Ending the Persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” Congress commended President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, describing the move as decisive in holding perpetrators of violence accountable.
The US in October 2026, for the second time, announced that Nigeria would be added to the US Department of State’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern.”
The US president, Donald Trump, in a post on X, explained that Nigeria would be placed on a religious freedom watchlist, alleging that Christians were facing persecution and being slaughtered by Muslims.
Nigeria was first designated as a Country of Particular Concern in 2020 under President Trump, but former President Joe Biden removed Nigeria from the list shortly after assuming office.
Meanwhile, in February, the United States Congress recommended the imposition of visa bans and asset freezes on individuals and groups accused of alleged violations of religious freedom and the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, and the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore were among the entities recommended by US lawmakers for visa bans and asset freezes.
The House Appropriations Committee hailed President Trump for his decisive action stating, “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,” the committee stated.
Congressional Investigation and Findings
According to the post, recalled that President Trump tasked Rep. Moore, House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, and the Appropriations Committee with investigating the “persecution and slaughter of Nigerian Christians.”
To examine the situation, Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart hosted an investigative roundtable and led a congressional delegation to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith convened hearings to gather testimony from government officials and civil society witnesses.
The collaboration, the statement said, culminated in a set of policy recommendations.
In its findings, Congress declared: “After decades of persecution, Nigeria is the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian.”
The committees alleged that Christians in Nigeria “are subject to ongoing 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.”
They further criticised the use of blasphemy laws in northern Nigerian states, stating that such laws “are used to silence speech and dissent, target Christians and minorities, and justify so-called ‘convictions’ without due process.”
While acknowledging Nigeria as a key US partner, Congress insisted that Nigeria must demonstrate stronger political will.
“Although the Government of Nigeria is a key partner for the United States, such a government must demonstrate the political will, including by allocating its own financial resources, to immediately reduce and then eliminate the violence,” the statement read.
It added, “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 Congressmen central to their recommendations, proposed a bilateral security and economic pact between both nations.
The Congress urged President Trump to “strike a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Government of Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities from violent persecution, eliminate jihadist terror activity in the region, further economic cooperation, and counter adversaries in the region, including the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian Federation.”
