US House approves bill proposing 50% cut in aid to Nigeria over alleged Christian persecution

US House approves bill proposing 50% cut in aid to Nigeria over alleged Christian persecution

The United States House of Representatives has approved a key appropriations bill that proposes withholding 50% of certain U.S. assistance to Nigeria until the Nigerian government demonstrates measurable progress in protecting Christian communities from religiously motivated violence.

The provision is contained in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Bill, which was passed by the House on Wednesday. The legislation allocates $47.32 billion in discretionary funding for diplomacy, national security and related programmes, representing a reduction of about $2.69 billion, or six per cent, from the FY2026 enacted level.

However, the proposal has not yet become U.S. law. It must still pass the remaining stages of the legislative process, including consideration by the Senate and presidential approval, before the aid restrictions can take effect.

Under the House-approved bill, 50% of eligible U.S. assistance to Nigeria would be withheld until the U.S. Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken measurable steps to protect Christians affected by religiously motivated attacks and improve security in vulnerable communities.

The accompanying House Appropriations Committee report expressed concern over persistent violence in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt, and referenced the Palm Sunday massacre as one of the incidents highlighting the need for stronger government action against perpetrators of violence.

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The committee also urged Nigerian authorities to ensure accountability for those responsible for attacks on civilians and improve measures to safeguard communities affected by insecurity.

The provision was championed by Congressman Riley M. Moore, who argued that the measure is intended to pressure the Nigerian government to strengthen protection for Christian communities and improve its response to religious violence.

According to Moore, the legislation sends a clear message that the United States expects greater accountability while continuing to support victims of religious persecution around the world.

Beyond the proposed aid restrictions, the bill directs that funding under the Security Sector Programme/National Security Account be used to support efforts aimed at tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, including attacks attributed in the committee report to Fulani militias.

The legislation also instructs the U.S. State Department to assess whether the Nigerian government is facilitating the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral communities. The findings will form part of the certification process required before the withheld assistance can be released.

In addition, the State Department would be required to submit reports to Congress within 45 to 60 days detailing efforts to address violence against Christian communities, improve accountability for violations of religious freedom, and evaluate progress made by Nigerian authorities.

To reinforce these objectives, lawmakers proposed an additional $2 million under the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement account to support atrocity prevention initiatives, with part of the funding earmarked for programmes addressing violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

The committee also encouraged stronger partnerships with Nigerian security agencies to improve professionalism, operational capacity and accountability in law enforcement as part of broader efforts to reduce insecurity.

Another provision directs the Secretary of State to assess the impact of Nigeria’s blasphemy laws in the annual International Religious Freedom Report, reflecting growing congressional interest in issues relating to religious liberty.

The broader appropriations package also includes provisions affecting global health funding, migration policy, foreign military financing and international broadcasting, in line with the United States’ evolving foreign policy priorities.

Supporters of the proposal argue that conditioning foreign assistance on measurable improvements in security and human rights will encourage stronger government action against violence.

However, analysts note that the proposal is likely to generate diplomatic discussions between Nigeria and the United States, with debates expected over its potential impact on humanitarian programmes, security cooperation and bilateral relations.

If eventually enacted, the measure could reshape aspects of U.S.-Nigeria relations, particularly in the areas of security assistance, religious freedom, human rights and counterterrorism cooperation.

US House approves bill proposing 50% cut in aid to Nigeria over alleged Christian persecution