US Offers $3.5m to Monitor Religious Violence in Nigeria

ABUJA – The United States Department of State has announced a $3.5 million (approximately ₦5 billion) funding opportunity aimed at improving the documentation and reporting of religious freedom abuses in Nigeria, while also criticising what it described as inadequate responses by Nigerian authorities to attacks on faith communities.

The initiative, unveiled by the Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, seeks applications from organisations capable of strengthening reporting efforts on attacks linked to religion and belief across the country.

According to the notice of funding opportunity released on May 22, 2026, the programme will run for between 24 and 48 months, with one award anticipated under either a grant or cooperative agreement. The State Department stated that the project aimed to enhance efforts to monitor and document abuses committed by both state and non-state actors in Nigeria.

“The Office of International Religious Freedom announces an open competition for organisations interested in submitting applications for projects that improve documentation and reporting efforts on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria, for accountability, advocacy, and memorialisation,” the notice stated.

The document referenced violence linked to Boko Haram, Fulani ethnic militias, ISIS-West Africa, and other armed groups, saying attacks have affected both Christians and Muslims. “Documenters, human rights and religious freedom advocates, religious leaders and community members, academics, journalists, and survivors have contributed to an evidence base that illustrates the extreme levels of violence perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, Fulani ethnic militias, and other armed actors against Christians and Muslims,” the notice said.

The US government also criticised what it described as inadequate responses by Nigerian authorities to attacks on faith communities. “Civil society reports indicate that authorities regularly fail to respond in a timely or effective manner to violent attacks against civilians and faith communities, and particularly attacks against Christians,” the document stated. It added, “This leads to widespread impunity for violence which encourages more violence, leading to further abuses and displacements.”

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The notice further alleged that some security personnel had raided places of worship while searching for suspected criminals. “There are also credible reports of Nigerian security personnel raiding places of worship and injuring clergy and congregants in search of alleged criminals,” it said.

The State Department said the funding initiative followed President Donald Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over religious freedom issues in November 2025. “President Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern placed a spotlight on the severity of these longstanding and worsening problems,” the document stated.

The CPC designation followed a joint report by the House Appropriations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, which described Nigeria as “the most dangerous place in the world to practice the Christian faith.” According to a 2023 Vatican report, over 18,000 churches have been destroyed in Nigeria since 2009 in attacks by Boko Haram militants, Fulani herdsmen, and others. The report recommended a bilateral agreement with Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities, sanctions on perpetrators, and the repeal of sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws.

President Trump had announced the redesignation on October 31, 2025, via his Truth Social platform, stating: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN’.” This is the second time in five years that Nigeria has been placed on the CPC list. The first came in December 2020 during Trump’s earlier administration, citing systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom. The Joe Biden administration removed Nigeria from the list in November 2021.

The $3.5 million monitoring initiative comes amid broader efforts by the US Congress to impose stricter conditions on aid to Nigeria. A House resolution introduced in November 2025 commending Trump’s CPC redesignation called for targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky framework against individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria, including the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).

The resolution also urged the State Department to condition US foreign assistance on the Nigerian government taking “immediate and effective steps to prevent religious persecution, prosecute perpetrators of violence, take action to care for the millions of internally displaced persons, and uphold constitutional protections for religious freedom.” Republican lawmaker Riley Moore, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had previously sent a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging “immediate action” to address what he called the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians in Nigeria.”

The IRF said proposals submitted under the programme should aim to improve accountability for violations through “monitoring, documenting, and reporting of such abuses committed by either state or non-state actors in Nigeria.” Applicants are expected to prioritise activities in the Middle Belt and identify at least four states where projects would be implemented. The Middle Belt region has experienced recurring security challenges and inter-communal tensions.

The funding opportunity is open to foreign and US-based non-profit organisations, public international organisations, higher education institutions, and for-profit entities, although the department said it prefers working with non-profit groups. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

The Federal Government has consistently rejected allegations of religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects all citizens regardless of faith, while also stating continued cooperation with the US on counterterrorism and security reforms. President Bola Tinubu rejected the CPC designation, describing it as a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s reality. “Nigeria is a democracy with constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” he said, stressing that the country does not sanction religious persecution.

The Nigerian government has insisted that the country’s security challenges affect citizens of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds, and that violence is rooted in a complex mix of terrorism, criminality, resource conflicts, and communal disputes. However, critics point to the scale of violence documented over the years. According to a 2023 report by Open Doors, Nigeria accounts for 89 percent of Christians martyred worldwide. An August 2024 report from the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa found that approximately 56,000 people died in attacks and about 22,000 people were abducted by terror groups in Nigeria between October 2019 and September 2023.

US Offers $3.5m to Monitor Religious Violence in Nigeria

Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards for Oyo, Deploys Rescue Team

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and deployed a specialised rescue team to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the decision was announced on Sunday, May 31, 2026, during a visit by a high-powered Federal Government delegation to Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire LGA, where pupils and teachers of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School were abducted on May 15, 2026.

The development comes 16 days after gunmen struck communities in the area and took dozens of schoolchildren and their teachers captive. The Oriire LGA communities sit on the fringes of a forested belt that the abductors have exploited for cover since the attack.

The delegation, led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, conveyed Tinubu’s concern over the incident and assured residents that efforts were being intensified to ensure the safe return of the victims. According to Onanuga, the delegation also informed community leaders that their request for the establishment of a military base in the area would be forwarded to the president for consideration and approval.

Members of the delegation included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by Deputy Inspector-General Tunji Disu; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare.

Tinubu also ordered a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify operations aimed at freeing the abducted pupils and teachers. The President directed that the operation be “intelligence-led and carefully coordinated,” deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims.

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The 1,000 forest guards approved by the President will be recruited in collaboration with the Oyo State Government as part of immediate measures to strengthen security across the affected communities and surrounding forests.

Addressing residents in both English and Yoruba, Gbajabiamila stressed that the President is determined to deploy all available resources to secure the victims’ release. “Mr. President is deeply troubled by this incident. Whatever it takes, our children and teachers will be brought back home safely. He has issued all necessary directives and is providing every support required by our security agencies to achieve that objective,” Gbajabiamila said.

“Your pain and anxiety are understood. By the grace of God, your children will return safely to your arms,” he added. The Chief of Staff also addressed appeals from parents and community members urging caution in the rescue efforts. “Let me assure you that the operation will be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated, deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims,” he said.

The delegation also visited the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, HRM Kabiyesi Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, to commiserate with the traditional ruler and his subjects. It also met with Mrs. Mary Oyedokun, the wife of a deceased teacher, and her two children, during which Gbajabiamila conveyed Tinubu’s condolences and assured the family of government support.

During the attack, a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded. A motorcyclist was also killed, and a security operative died after running into improvised explosive devices planted by the abductors during early rescue attempts.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who was part of the delegation, acknowledged the efforts of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, noting that the governor is handling the situation effectively under difficult circumstances. “We also acknowledge Governor Seyi Makinde. He’s doing well,” Ribadu said. Ribadu disclosed that the President had given approval for the recruitment of forest guards to support security operations in forested areas often used as hideouts by criminal groups.

The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools simultaneously in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA. The attackers, numbering about 12, came on motorcycles and struck at about 9:30 a.m., abducting at least 25 pupils and seven teachers.

The Federal Government continues to work closely with the Oyo State Government to respond to the incident and improve security in vulnerable forest corridors. As of the time of reporting, rescue operations were ongoing, with security agencies working to secure the safe return of all abducted victims.

Tinubu Approves 1,000 Forest Guards for Oyo, Deploys Rescue Team

NLC Rejects N100,000 Minimum Wage, Demands N1m Monthly

ABUJA – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed suggestions that a new national minimum wage of N100,000 would adequately address workers’ challenges, insisting that employees require significantly higher earnings to cope with prevailing economic realities.

Speaking on Sunday, the spokesperson for the NLC, Benson Upah, said a monthly wage of N1 million would be more reflective of current economic conditions, citing soaring inflation, rising living costs, and the declining purchasing power of wages. His comments followed remarks by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who disclosed that governors were considering a review of the national minimum wage to N100,000.

AbdulRazaq made the proposal on Friday during a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and state governors held at the President’s residence in Lagos. The Kwara governor, who also serves as NGF Chairman, praised what he described as Tinubu’s “courage” in removing fuel subsidy, saying only a small fraction of political leaders could take such a decisive step. According to the governor, most states were now able to meet salary obligations without resorting to borrowing or bond issuance. “In my own state, when we get the FAAC allocation, after paying salaries, we’re left with N100 or N200 million,” he said. He further disclosed that many states were already paying above the national benchmark, with several implementing a minimum wage of about N100,000. “On the issue of minimum wage, most of the states are paying almost 100,000 naira today and I urge your excellency, let’s all have a discussion on moving the minimum wage to 100,000,” AbdulRazaq told the President.

The governor also stated in a Facebook post on Saturday that the proposal was driven by soaring inflation, the increasing cost of living, and the growing financial pressure on workers across the country. According to him, discussions were ongoing among state governments, the Federal Government, and organised labour to develop a wage structure that would improve workers’ welfare without undermining fiscal stability. “State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said. “We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”

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Responding to the proposal, Upah acknowledged the governors’ move to review workers’ pay as “thoughtful” but maintained that the figure being considered was insufficient. “We consider it thoughtful of the Kwara State governor to propose this, but certainly, N100,000 falls far below the realistic figure,” he said. He attributed the need for a much higher wage to several economic factors, including the depreciation of the naira, persistent inflation, increased electricity tariffs, rising fuel costs, shrinking purchasing power, and the impact of recent tax measures. “Given the realities around the exchange rate, inflation, raised tariffs, the surge in the pump price of petrol and associated costs, the decline in the purchasing power of the average worker, and the effects of the new tax regime on our cost of living, the realistic figure, subject to status quo maintenance, would be N1 million,” he stated.

The labour leader also argued that government revenues had improved considerably and could support enhanced worker remuneration. He pointed to increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) as justification for higher wages. “In light of the earnings by governments, this should not be a big issue. Check what is being shared at FAAC. The windfall from the Middle East war has put over N5tn in the treasury. Even though this is temporary, it is nonetheless very good for governments,” he added. Upah further stressed the importance of investing in the workforce, describing workers as the backbone of national development. “Finally, please note that the greatest asset of any nation is its workforce,” he said.

Upah’s reference to the Middle East windfall is supported by recent FAAC data. Nigeria is currently benefiting from the ongoing Middle East energy disruption triggered by the United States-Israel war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. A report released by the Federation Account Allocation Committee revealed that March 2026 revenue surpassed the previous month (February) by N142 billion. FAAC approved N2.036 trillion gross revenue for March 2026, which was higher than February’s N1.894 trillion. As an oil-producing nation, Nigeria is benefiting from the ongoing crisis primarily through a significant windfall in oil revenue, which boosts the funds available for distribution by FAAC. The conflict has pushed global oil prices to surge well above Nigeria’s 2026 budget benchmark of $64.85perbarrel,resultinginhigherexportearnings.Thecrisis,whichstartedinFebruary2026,pushedglobaloilpricesabove\ast \ast$90–$100 per barrel**. The price surge increases the value of every barrel of crude oil exported, directly translating into increased foreign exchange inflows and boosting Nigeria’s external reserves. The total distributable revenue for March 2026 comprised distributable statutory revenue of N1.320 trillion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N515.391 billion, and augmentation of N200 billion.

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While the NLC has proposed N1 million as a realistic wage figure, the union’s leadership has also acknowledged that a high salary is meaningless without a stable naira. In an earlier statement in April 2026, NLC President Joe Ajaero noted that organised labour was more concerned about the value of the naira than nominal wage increases, stressing that rising inflation had continued to erode workers’ purchasing power. “Even if Nigerian workers earn N1 million, it will not be meaningful if the naira has no value. What we are looking for is a currency that can sustain workers and their families at least to the end of the month,” Ajaero had said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. Ajaero also clarified that the ongoing conversation around a new national minimum wage must follow laid-down procedures, adding that it is governed by law and tied to a specific review cycle. “The minimum wage has not been negotiated yet. It is a process that must follow the law. When it is time, we will commence negotiation ahead of its expiration. It cannot be rushed because of election timelines,” he said. He said the NLC would initiate the process within the stipulated window before the expiration of the current wage structure. Ajaero also called for urgent government intervention to cushion the impact of inflation, noting that the current economic situation had not improved for workers. He said the surge in fuel prices had worsened the hardship, with attendant effects on transportation, food prices, and general cost of living.

The debate over workers’ wages has intensified amid worsening economic conditions following the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira by the Federal Government. In July 2024, the Federal Government approved a new national minimum wage of N70,000 after prolonged negotiations with organised labour, replacing the previous N30,000 minimum wage approved in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The law also provides for periodic reviews every three years. However, labour unions have consistently argued that inflation and rising living costs have significantly eroded the value of the wage. Recent increases in electricity tariffs, transportation fares, and food prices have further strengthened calls for a fresh wage review, with labour leaders insisting that salaries should reflect prevailing economic realities.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) had earlier announced in their May Day address that negotiations for a fresh national minimum wage would commence by July 2026, ahead of the expiration of the current agreement next year. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum is yet to formally submit any proposal on a new minimum wage framework to either the Federal Government or organised labour. The emergence of an N100,000 benchmark marks the clearest indication yet that government officials are considering an upward adjustment in workers’ pay, but the wide gap between the governors’ proposal and labour’s demand suggests potentially protracted negotiations ahead. As of the time of reporting, the Federal Government had not issued an official response to either the governors’ proposal or the NLC’s counter-demand of N1 million.

NLC Rejects N100,000 Minimum Wage, Demands N1m Monthly