The United States (U.S) House of Representatives has passed a national security and foreign operations appropriations bill that will restrict foreign aid to Nigeria.
The legislation, H.R. 8595 (the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act), was approved by a narrow margin of 217–209 votes.
The bill to restrict foreign aid to Nigeria was passed after the U.S House of Representatives agreed to an amendment bill that would increase withholding of assistance to Nigeria from 50 percent to 100 percent.
Gregory Steube, who represents Florida’s 17th congressional district in the House, proposed the amendment on Wednesday.
The House had first proposed to halve funds appropriated for Nigeria in April.
Speaking in support of his motion, Steube said withholding only 50 percent of the funds appeared to reward the Nigerian government “despite failure to meet its fundamental obligation to protect citizens”.
“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria, from 50 percent to 100 percent. While keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country,” Steube said.
“Nigeria has faced a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address.
“For years, and especially in recent months, Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria have been subjected to violence and terrorism at the hands of extremists operating with impunity.
“Christian women and girls continue to be abducted, assaulted, tortured, and killed. Their churches are burned, and entire communities are erased.
“If the aid conditions included in the bill are important enough to withhold half of all the funding to the Nigerian government, then they are important enough to withhold all of the funding.
“The generosity of our taxpayers is a reflection of the American values we hold so firmly. Never should we allow their hard-earned tax dollars to be funnelled to corrupt regimes that fail to uphold religious freedom, fail to adequately confront terrorism, and fail to protect the innocent from persecution.
“So, why are we rewarding a government that fails to meet such a basic obligation?”
Steube said it is absurd to expend foreign aid to Nigeria in the face of rising insecurity, especially as America’s national debt approaches $40 trillion.
He said his amendment proposal would ensure that U.S aid is appropriately leveraged to defend, reflect, and uphold American values.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the core of the legislative push centers on human rights and religious liberty.
Under the newly passed bill, U.S assistance to Nigeria will be restricted until the Nigerian government demonstrates “measurable actions” toward protecting Christian communities.
Key drivers behind this legislative action include:
Escalating Religious Violence: Lawmakers highlighted the ongoing, unchecked violence against faith-based communities, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Demand for Accountability: Congress is pushing the Nigerian government to actively prosecute perpetrators of sectarian violence and dismantle hostile extremist factions.
”Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) Status: This legislative crackdown follows intense lobbying by human rights advocates and lawmakers, such as Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who have consistently called for the U.S. State Department to hold Nigeria accountable for failing to address severe violations of religious freedom.
Recall also that in 2025, U.S President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria a country of particular concern over Christian genocide claims, before following up with a missile strike on Nigerian territory on Christmas Day.
Nigeria and the United States have since entered a military partnership targeting terrorists in the country.
