The United States House of Representatives has passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, a $47.32 billion spending bill that ties U.S. assistance to Nigeria to concrete actions protecting Christian communities from escalating violence.
The legislation, championed by Congressman Riley M. Moore, mandates that 50 percent of U.S. funds allocated to Nigeria’s central government be withheld unless the Secretary of State certifies that Abuja is taking measurable steps to prevent religiously-motivated killings, hold perpetrators accountable, and facilitate the safe return of internally displaced Christians to their ancestral lands.
The bill specifically addresses threats posed by Fulani terrorists and prioritizes law enforcement partnerships with Nigerian state police forces in Plateau and Benue states, while also dedicating funding to combat ritualized murder and organ trafficking in Africa.
Nigeria has been placed on a special watchlist under Section 7015, requiring the U.S. administration to notify Congress at least 15 days in advance before any funds are obligated to the country, alongside Pakistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Sudan, and Venezuela. Congressman Moore, who has been at the forefront of the push for accountability, accused the Tinubu administration of spending millions lobbying Congress while failing to adequately address the persecution Nigerian Christians face daily, and confirmed he will continue discussing Nigeria with President Trump, who redesignated the country as a Country of Particular Concern in October 2025.
The bill also includes a dollar-for-dollar matching fund requirement, mandating that Nigeria contribute from its own budget an amount equal to every U.S. dollar spent on programs in the country.
The legislation further eliminates funding for Biden-era programs centered on climate mandates, DEI initiatives, and radical gender ideology, while maintaining all longstanding pro-life protections.
Despite passing the House, the bill must still pass the Senate and receive presidential assent before taking effect, though President Trump has expressed strong support for the legislation.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims that violence in the country constitutes religious persecution, maintaining instead that insecurity stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal conflict affecting citizens of all faiths, but the bill signals a significant shift in U.S.-Nigeria relations, making future aid contingent on tangible progress in protecting Christian communities.
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