A congressional panel established by former U.S. President Donald Trump to examine allegations of widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria has formally submitted its findings to the White House, recommending a sweeping bilateral security and economic framework between Washington and Abuja.
The development was announced by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. In a post shared Monday on his X account, Moore disclosed that the panel’s report had been presented at the White House, accompanied by a photograph of himself holding a file containing the document.
“Just presented our report on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria to the White House. More to come,” he wrote.
The investigative panel was constituted after President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October 2025, citing alleged religious persecution. The designation triggered the formation of a congressional inquiry led by Moore alongside House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole.
Other lawmakers involved in the fact-finding process included Appropriations Vice Chair Mario Díaz-Balart, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, and Africa Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith. The panel convened investigative roundtables, held congressional hearings, and conducted a delegation visit to Nigeria before compiling its recommendations.
Key Findings
In its two-page report titled Ending the Persecution of Christians in Nigeria, the panel described Nigeria as “the deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” alleging decades of targeted violence by armed Fulani militias and terrorist organisations.
The report cited mass killings, kidnappings, destruction of churches and schools, and the use of blasphemy laws in northern states to suppress dissent and marginalise religious minorities. It argued that recent U.S. policy actions have created “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reset bilateral relations while pressing for measurable security reforms.
While acknowledging Nigeria as a strategic U.S. partner, the panel stressed that Abuja must demonstrate political will and commit domestic resources to ending sectarian violence.
Strategic and Security Recommendations
Central to the report is a proposed bilateral agreement between the United States and Nigeria aimed at protecting vulnerable Christian communities, eliminating jihadist activity, deepening economic cooperation, and countering geopolitical rivals, including China and Russia.
Among the recommended commitments for the Nigerian government are:
Co-funding humanitarian assistance, particularly for internally displaced persons in the Middle Belt.
Strengthening early-warning mechanisms and deploying adequate security forces to prevent attacks and kidnappings.
Removing armed groups from confiscated farmland and facilitating the safe return of displaced communities.
Expanding security cooperation with Washington, including divesting from Russian military hardware in favour of U.S. defence systems.
The panel also proposed technical assistance to support demobilisation and disarmament initiatives, land reform and ranching policies under Nigeria’s Ministry of Livestock, and broader reforms to improve the capacity and responsiveness of security forces.
Counterterrorism and Sanctions
The report calls for intensified counterterrorism cooperation, including potential classification of certain Fulani militia groups as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, subject to a U.S. National Intelligence Estimate on sectarian violence in Nigeria.
It further recommends sanctions against individuals and groups implicated in violence against Christians, continuation of visa restrictions for perpetrators, and public invocation of CPC Presidential Directives to “name and shame” offenders.
Additional proposals include:
Repeal of criminal anti-blasphemy laws and sharia penal codes.
Oversight audits by the U.S. Government Accountability Office on American aid effectiveness.
Strengthening anti-money laundering systems and disrupting terrorist financing networks.
Leveraging trade measures, including potential restrictions on cattle exports linked to armed groups.
Increased investment by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Improved Foreign Military Sales procedures to expedite defence procurement.
The panel also urged coordination with international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom to address security and governance challenges.
The White House has yet to issue an official response to the report or indicate which recommendations, if any, may be adopted as formal U.S. policy.
