APC USA Set to Counter Nigeria CPC Narrative at US Congress
The United States chapter of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured an opportunity to present Nigeria's perspective on the controversial Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation before the US House Subcommittee on Africa. The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, 20 November 2025, will review President Donald Trump's decision to label Nigeria as a CPC over alleged religious persecution.
Firsthand Intelligence and Verifiable Data
In a formal letter addressed to Subcommittee Chairman Representative Chris Smith, APC USA indicated its readiness to deploy a high-level delegation equipped with what it described as "firsthand intelligence and verifiable data" concerning Nigeria's complex security landscape. The group aims to provide lawmakers with comprehensive context before they reach any conclusions about Nigeria's religious freedom record.
Professor Tai Balofin, Chairman of APC USA, emphasized that while the organization supports religious freedom for all Nigerians, international narratives often oversimplify the nation's challenges. "The insecurity in Nigeria is driven by banditry, resource conflict, climate pressures and transnational crime — not solely by religious persecution," Balofin stated. "Congress deserves the complete picture."
Security Gains and Progress Under Tinubu
The proposed testimony will highlight significant security improvements achieved under President Bola Tinubu's administration, based on reports from Nigerian authorities and international monitors. The delegation plans to present evidence of:
- Progress in degrading terrorist networks across the country
- Substantial improvements in early-warning systems
- Strengthened interfaith engagement and dialogue initiatives
Beyond clarifying misconceptions, the APC USA delegation intends to recommend enhanced cooperation between the United States and Nigeria in several critical areas:
- Security collaboration and intelligence sharing
- Humanitarian support for affected communities
- Technical assistance for security infrastructure
This congressional appearance follows Nigeria's recent criticism of a United Nations event hosted by American rapper Nicki Minaj, which addressed alleged killings of Nigerians from a specific faith group. Nigeria's chargé d'affaires to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, condemned the exclusion of Nigerian representatives, describing it as "shaving our head in our absence" and stressing that meaningful dialogue requires participation from the country facing such allegations.
Congressional Hearing Details and Participants
The Subcommittee meeting is scheduled to convene at 11 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The session will examine Nigeria's CPC redesignation and consider the extent of religious persecution in the country, along with potential policy responses that could include sanctions or humanitarian interventions.
Key witnesses expected to testify include:
- Senior US State Department officials Jonathan Pratt and Jacob McGee
- Nina Shea, Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom
- Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese
- Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic & International Studies
The CPC designation, imposed by President Trump on 31 October 2025, cited alleged targeted killings of Christians and warned that continued violence could lead to restrictions on US aid or military intervention. President Tinubu has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that "Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty" and that the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant "does not reflect our national reality."
