The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would make American assistance to Nigeria contingent on measurable progress in protecting Christians and addressing religiously motivated violence, marking a significant development in Washington’s approach to relations with Africa’s most populous nation.
The provision is contained in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act, which cleared the House this week and now moves to the next stage of the congressional approval process.
The measure, sponsored by Republican Congressman Riley Moore, would withhold a portion of U.S. aid to Nigeria unless the Federal Government demonstrates concrete efforts to curb attacks on Christian communities and improve protection for victims of religious violence.
In a further tightening of the proposal, the House also adopted an amendment introduced by Republican Congressman Greg Steube, which seeks to suspend all U.S. assistance to Nigeria until the prescribed conditions are met.
Steube said the amendment was intended to ensure that American taxpayer funds are not provided to governments perceived as failing to adequately protect religious minorities.
Speaking during deliberations on the legislation, the Florida congressman expressed concern over persistent attacks on Christian communities, arguing that stronger measures were needed to encourage accountability and action by Nigerian authorities.
According to him, foreign assistance should be tied to demonstrable efforts to safeguard vulnerable populations and confront extremist violence.
Steube maintained that the proposal was aimed at promoting accountability rather than penalising ordinary Nigerians, insisting that governments benefiting from U.S. aid should be required to show commitment to protecting their citizens.
Moore, who championed the broader legislation, said the bill reflects growing concern among some U.S. lawmakers over reports of attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria.
He argued that conditioning assistance on measurable outcomes would strengthen oversight of American foreign aid programmes while encouraging greater action to address insecurity.
Under the proposal, Nigeria would be expected to demonstrate progress in protecting Christian populations, tackling violence linked to armed groups and facilitating the safe return of displaced persons to their communities.
The legislation also includes provisions supporting police training, law enforcement cooperation and accountability initiatives in Nigeria, while directing the U.S. State Department to provide periodic assessments of the security situation and recommendations for further action.
Beyond Nigeria, the appropriations bill contains broader foreign policy measures, including funding to combat human trafficking and organised crime, as well as initiatives aimed at countering international security threats.
The legislation also proposes restrictions on funding for several climate, diversity and gender-related programmes established under previous U.S. administrations.
Although the House has approved the bill and accompanying amendment, the proposals must still be considered by the U.S. Senate and reconciled before being sent to President Donald Trump for assent.
Should the provisions survive the legislative process and become law, they could significantly alter the framework for U.S. assistance to Nigeria and place renewed international focus on the country’s security challenges and protection of religious communities.
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