The United States Department of State has announced a $3.5 million (about N5 billion) funding opportunity to strengthen documentation and reporting of alleged religious freedom abuses in Nigeria.
The Office of International Religious Freedom, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, has unveiled an initiative inviting organisations to improve monitoring and reporting on violence linked to religion or belief across the country.
According to a notice released on May 22, 2026, the programme will run for 24 to 48 months, with one award expected through a grant or cooperative agreement.
The department said the project would enhance efforts to monitor abuses by both state and non-state actors and improve accountability through better documentation and reporting.
The State Department notice referenced violence involving Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, Fulani militias and other armed groups, stating that both Christians and Muslims have been affected.
It also criticised what it described as inadequate responses by Nigerian authorities and alleged that some security personnel had been involved in raids on places of worship during operations.
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The funding call follows the US decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom concerns, a move first made under President Donald Trump in 2025.
Officials said proposals should focus on monitoring, documenting and reporting abuses, with priority given to Nigeria’s Middle Belt and at least four participating states.
Eligible applicants include non-profit organisations, universities, international bodies and for-profit entities, though preference is given to non-profits, with applications due July 9, 2026.
The announcement comes amid continued US concern over insecurity and religious tensions in Nigeria, while the Nigerian government has rejected claims of persecution and says violence affects all citizens.
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The initiative is part of broader US efforts to support human rights monitoring and strengthen civil society reporting mechanisms in countries where religiously linked violence has been recorded. It is expected to fund projects that improve data collection, survivor documentation, public reporting systems and accountability frameworks for both state and non-state actors. Implementing organisations will be required to operate in selected Nigerian regions, particularly in areas considered vulnerable to recurring communal or extremist violence. The programme is also intended to enhance coordination between researchers, journalists, faith leaders and advocacy groups to build a more comprehensive evidence base on incidents affecting religious communities and to support long-term policy responses aimed at reducing violence and displacement.
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