Riley Moore, United States congressman, has called for stricter conditions on American security assistance to Nigeria, accusing the federal government of failing to adequately address violence against Christians.
Moore, one of the vocal voices on alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, made the remarks in a post on X on Wednesday, following the passage of the US House appropriations bill funding the State Department.
“The Tinubu Administration is spending millions lobbying Congress while failing to adequately address the genocide Nigerian Christians face daily,” Moore said.
He disclosed that the legislation includes provisions to restrict US security assistance to Nigeria unless specific conditions are met, including improved response to violence, accountability for perpetrators, and support for internally displaced persons.
“In this bill, I worked… to restrict Security Assistance to Nigeria unless certain criteria are met,” he said, listing measures such as “effectively responding to violence and holding perpetrators accountable” and “prioritizing resources for internally displaced persons.”
Moore added that the bill mandates the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to assess Nigeria’s compliance with the outlined conditions.
The lawmaker also said the legislation prioritises funding for “atrocities prevention,” “advancing religious freedom,” and prosecuting armed groups, including “Fulani ethnic militia groups, criminal gangs, and other jihadist terrorist groups.”
He further noted that Nigeria has been placed on a list of countries requiring heightened congressional oversight, with the State Department required to submit detailed plans on how funds allocated to the country will be spent.
“The Secretary is required to submit a plan for every dollar appropriated to Nigeria, and every dollar spent will have direct Congressional oversight,” Moore said.
The bill also includes funding for international narcotics control and law enforcement programmes aimed at addressing violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, as well as support for the establishment of state-level policing structures.
“In my view, the Tinubu Administration has failed to live up to the conditions the appropriations committee placed on security assistance,” he added.
Moore urged Rubio to consider these concerns in administering US funding for Nigeria in the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, insisting that “the United States will not turn a blind eye to the brutal persecution of our Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The development comes amid heightened tensions between Abuja and Washington following the decision by US President Donald Trump to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in November 2025 over alleged religious persecution.
The designation triggered a series of diplomatic engagements, with the Nigerian government rejecting claims of targeted attacks against Christians and insisting that insecurity in the country is driven by terrorism, banditry and organised crime affecting both Christians and Muslims.
The diplomatic push coincided with deeper security cooperation between both countries. On Christmas Day, Nigeria confirmed US airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, marking the first publicly acknowledged American military action on Nigerian soil.
In addition, hundreds of US troops have since been deployed to Nigeria to support and train local forces in counterterrorism operations.
Nigeria has also stepped up lobbying efforts in Washington. In December, the government, through Aster Legal, engaged US consulting firm DCI Group under a $4.5 million contract to counter allegations of genocide and sustain American support for its security operations.
Earlier in February, Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady, attended the US National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, where Trump described her as a “very respected” Christian leader.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
