The U.S. House Appropriations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have delivered a joint report to the White House examining the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. The report follows President Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under U.S. religious freedom law.
The joint findings stem from what lawmakers described as a comprehensive congressional investigation. The inquiry included interviews with expert witnesses, a formal hearing and roundtable discussion, two on-the-ground assessments through bipartisan congressional delegations to Nigeria, and coordination with the administration.
According to the report, Nigeria has become “the most dangerous place in the world to practice the Christian faith.” Lawmakers attribute this condition to the activities of jihadist networks that they say exploit weak enforcement mechanisms and limited accountability to carry out sustained and coordinated attacks on civilians. Members of Congress who traveled to Nigeria reported witnessing firsthand the consequences of violence on Christian communities, as well as the broader implications for regional stability and U.S. national security interests.
The report states that failure to confront extremist violence has emboldened terrorist actors and accelerated further instability. It argues that protecting religious freedom and countering extremism require clear policy measures and accountability mechanisms.
Policy Recommendations
The joint report outlines a series of recommendations intended to align congressional and executive branch actions following the CPC redesignation.
First, lawmakers recommend negotiating a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Government of Nigeria. Such an agreement would aim to protect vulnerable Christian communities, dismantle jihadist terror activity, expand economic cooperation, and counter adversarial influences in the region.
Second, the report calls for implementation of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. Under that legislation, U.S. funding to the Government of Nigeria would be withheld until concrete action is taken to stop violence against Christians.
Third, the committees recommend invoking and publicly announcing CPC Presidential Directives to identify and publicly condemn perpetrators of violence.
Additional recommendations include:
- Imposing sanctions on individuals and groups participating in or tolerating violence against Christians.
- Continuing visa restrictions for perpetrators involved in religious persecution.
- Calling for repeal of sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws viewed as contributing to religious discrimination.
- Reviewing economic leverage points to encourage disarmament of Fulani herdsmen, including potentially blocking exports of beef and related cattle products.
The report emphasizes that these measures are intended to establish accountability and deter future violence.
Congressional Statements
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) described religious freedom as a foundational American principle and stated that protecting believers abroad aligns with longstanding U.S. values. He credited President Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC and said the report was prepared at the President’s request to outline further actions.
Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs, said he heard directly from witnesses and experts during official travel to Nigeria. He emphasized that U.S. foreign policy prioritizes defending fundamental freedoms, including religious liberty, and highlighted provisions in the FY26 legislation withholding assistance until corrective steps are taken.
Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV), Vice Chair of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, noted that he traveled to Nigeria with a bipartisan delegation. He described meeting internally displaced persons, religious leaders, and Nigerian government officials. Moore stated that the report outlines concrete steps to impose accountability measures and coordinate with Nigerian authorities to address security challenges.
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, said religious freedom is a universal right. He called the report a set of meaningful steps to confront extremism and protect vulnerable communities.
Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) said his visit to Nigeria underscored the human toll of religious persecution and stressed Congress’s oversight responsibility. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) described targeted violence against Christian communities as unacceptable and said CPC redesignation creates an opportunity for change.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) stated that the United States would not ignore Christian persecution and said the report documents the plight of affected communities. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, described the redesignation as both a declaration and directive, arguing that longstanding failures to prosecute extremist violence have contributed to continued attacks. He said the report provides policy tools ranging from bilateral agreements to sanctions.
Congressional–Executive Coordination
The joint report reflects coordination between the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees and the White House. Lawmakers characterized the effort as a unified response to a prolonged crisis spanning nearly two decades.
By tying recommendations to appropriations authority, sanctions policy, and diplomatic engagement, the committees signal that congressional oversight will play a central role in shaping U.S.–Nigeria relations.
The report underscores that religious freedom remains a priority issue for both Congress and the administration. With Nigeria now redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern, the committees state that a significant policy opportunity exists to address violence against Christians and strengthen accountability mechanisms.
The full report was formally delivered to the White House as part of this joint congressional effort
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