‘Christian genocide’: US moves to tighten conditions on security assistance to Nigeria

The United States is moving to impose stricter conditions on security assistance to Nigeria amid growing concerns in Congress over violence affecting Christian communities.

The development follows criticism from Riley Moore, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing West Virginia’s 2nd District, who accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of prioritising lobbying efforts in Washington over addressing insecurity at home.

Moore made the claim in a post shared on X on Wednesday night, alleging that the Federal Government has failed to respond adequately to the crisis.

“The Tinubu Administration is spending millions lobbying Congress while failing to adequately address the genocide Nigerian Christians face daily.”

He added that the House Appropriations Committee had passed its annual State Department funding bill, which includes measures targeting the situation in Nigeria.

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“@HouseAppropsGOP just passed our annual State Department funding bill, which takes serious steps to address this crisis. 🧵

“In this bill, I worked with @MarioDB to restrict Security Assistance to Nigeria unless certain criteria are met, including: effectively responding to violence and holding perpetrators accountable, prioritising resources for internally displaced persons, and actively returning displaced persons to their ancestral homelands.”

The proposed legislation seeks to tie U.S. security support to measurable actions by Nigeria, including improved responses to violence, accountability for perpetrators, and enhanced support for internally displaced persons.

Under the bill, Nigeria would also be subject to increased oversight, with U.S. authorities required to monitor how allocated funds are spent. The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is mandated to assess Nigeria’s compliance with these conditions before further assistance is approved.

The legislation also provides funding aimed at addressing insecurity linked to armed groups, while encouraging stronger accountability within Nigeria’s security forces and greater support for local response systems.

“The Secretary is required to submit a plan for every dollar appropriated to Nigeria, and every dollar spent will have direct Congressional oversight.

“The bill also includes millions in funding for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement to address “violence perpetrated by Fulani Ethnic Militia” and other sources of instability in the Middle Belt.

“That provision also bolsters support for the establishment of state level police forces so Christians in Plateau and Benue aren’t sitting ducks waiting for help from Abuja.”