The United States House of Representatives has passed a fiscal year 2027 spending bill that includes a provision to completely withhold foreign assistance to Nigeria unless the US government certifies that Nigeria is taking effective measures to protect Christian communities from targeted violence. The bill, titled the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act for FY2027, was approved on Wednesday by a vote of 217-209.
Provision Targets Nigeria Over Religious Violence
The legislation specifically demands that the US government hold foreign governments accountable for persecuting people of faith. According to the bill, this includes “restricting assistance to Nigeria until measurable actions are taken to protect Christian communities suffering from religious violence.” It also seeks to “provide support for religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organisations delivering foreign aid.”
The provision was championed by Republican lawmakers Riley Moore and Jeff Steube, who represents Florida. Moore had previously accused the Nigerian government of engaging in a “Christian genocide” and pushed for language in the appropriations act to restrict assistance to Nigeria, arguing that “not enough has been done against Fulani Islamist terrorists in the Middle Belt.”
Amendment Raises Withholding to 100%
Initially, the bill restricted 50% of US assistance to Nigeria. However, Representative Steube proposed an amendment to raise the withholding to 100%, arguing that withholding only half the funds would effectively reward the Nigerian government despite its failure to protect citizens. The House agreed to the amendment, resulting in a complete freeze on all foreign aid to Nigeria until the certification is made.
Steube announced the bill’s passage on his official X handle, stating: “American taxpayers should NEVER bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered.” Moore told the House that the provision offered assistance conditioned on improvement in the protection of the Christian population, describing it as part of the Trump administration’s strategy to assist Nigeria while holding President Bola Tinubu’s government accountable if they fail.
Context of US-Nigeria Relations
The bill comes amid a complex relationship between the US and Nigeria. Although President Donald Trump paused foreign aid distribution and disbanded USAID early in his administration, limited funding was provided to Nigeria, particularly for counter-terrorism operations and support for victims of violence. In January, the US allocated $413.046 million for counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria and other African countries. Less than two months later, the US delivered critical military supplies to Nigeria.
Nigeria has been designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the US over allegations of religious persecution. The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied accusations of Christian genocide, and local and international rights groups have stated that violence by armed groups in Nigeria targets people of all faiths, not Christians specifically.
Joint Security Operations and Sanctions
Despite tensions, both countries have conducted successful joint security operations. One such operation led to the elimination of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, also known as Abubakar Mainok, a top commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) based in Nigeria. The US also recently announced it had extracted a large cache of terrorist intelligence from Nigeria, which remains under review.
Additionally, some Nigerian nationals and organisations have been accused and sanctioned for terrorism financing. This includes Mukhtar Adamu, a Lagos-based bureau de change operator, who allegedly facilitated financial transactions for the West African faction of ISIS through his BDC firms.
Next Steps for the Bill
The bill passed by the US House must still be approved by the Senate and signed by President Trump to become law. If enacted, it would represent a significant escalation in US pressure on Nigeria over religious freedom concerns.
