by Ogbeni Olawale Dawodu~
WASHINGTON D.C. — The United States House Appropriations Committee is set to lead a crucial joint congressional briefing today, Tuesday, December 2, to address escalating allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
The high-level roundtable, convened by House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario Díaz-Balart, will gather members of the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees, alongside experts from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
A Mandate from the White House
The briefing is a direct response to a mandate from President Trump, who has placed the issue of religious persecution in Nigeria at the forefront of his foreign policy agenda.
US Congressman Riley Moore confirmed the urgency of the meeting in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the administration’s directive.
“President Trump asked me and @HouseAppropsGOP to investigate the persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” Moore wrote.
Moore outlined that the primary goal of the briefing is to “spotlight the escalating violence and targeted persecution” facing faith communities in the West African nation. The roundtable will collect expert testimony to compile a comprehensive report directed by the President. This report is expected to recommend specific legislative and executive steps to support the White House’s efforts to protect vulnerable religious groups.
“As part of this investigation, the committee is hosting a roundtable to continue building on the work we’ve done so far,” Moore stated, delivering a strong promise of solidarity:
“We will never turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer for their faith.”Escalating Tensions and Warnings
The backdrop of this meeting is severe. On October 31, President Trump placed Nigeria on a watchlist regarding Christian genocide, citing “grave violations of religious freedom.”
The administration has alleged that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria due to relentless attacks by radical Islamist groups. The rhetoric from Washington has intensified, with warnings that failure to address these atrocities could trigger significant US consequences, including the possibility of military intervention to safeguard vulnerable populations.
Historically, Nigeria was designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the Trump administration in 2020. This designation was reversed by President Joe Biden upon taking office, a move that is now being aggressively reconsidered by the current House leadership.
Nigeria’s Security Response
Amidst the heightened scrutiny from Washington, the Nigerian government is attempting to bolster its security architecture.
According to reports, President Bola Tinubu recently cleared a high-powered delegation for the new US–Nigeria Joint Working Group. Led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, this group includes top ministers and security officials tasked with:
- Strengthening counterterrorism operations.
- Improving intelligence sharing between the two nations.
- Bolstering border security.
- Enhancing coordination on humanitarian and civilian protection.
The success of this working group may prove pivotal as US lawmakers meet today to determine the next steps in their investigation into the violence rocking Nigeria’s religious communities.
Would you like me to draft a summary of the historical differences between the CPC designations under the Trump and Biden administrations for context?
