U.S. House Votes to Block Aid to Nigeria Over Anti-Christian Violence Claims

Nigeria could lose all economic and security assistance from the United States after the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment that would block funding unless the country demonstrates measurable progress in tackling alleged anti-Christian violence.

The move comes days after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, visited Abuja and described his meetings with Nigerian officials as successful, highlighting contrasting approaches within the U.S. government toward relations with Nigeria.

The amendment, sponsored by Republican Congressman Greg Steube, requires the U.S. Secretary of State to certify that Nigeria is making measurable progress in addressing anti-Christian violence before any economic or security assistance can be released. The proposal will now move to the Senate for consideration.

Backing the measure, Senator Ted Cruz, Chairman of the Senate Africa Subcommittee, accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christians and religious minorities.

According to Cruz:

“Nigerian officials have created an environment that facilitates mass violence against Christians and religious minorities by imposing blasphemy and Sharia laws and looking the other way at jihadist atrocities.”

He further claimed:

“The U.S. government knows the Nigerian officials responsible for these policies, I have been pushing my bill to sanction them, and President Trump has even ordered military action.”

Congressman Steube argued that if aid conditions are important enough to justify withholding part of the funding, then all funding should be withheld until Nigeria meets the required conditions.

“If the aid conditions included in the bill are important enough to withhold half of all the funding to the Nigerian government, then they are important enough to withhold all of the funding.”

The Nigerian government has consistently denied allegations that Christians are being specifically targeted, maintaining that the country’s security challenges affect people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.