The United States House Appropriations Committee is set to hold a joint congressional briefing on Tuesday to address what it describes as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
US Congressman Riley Moore confirmed the session on X, stating that it will be led by House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chair Mario Díaz-Balart.
“He will be joined by colleagues from the Appropriations Committee, as well as members of the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees,” Moore noted.
The briefing will also feature insights from representatives of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and other experts on the subject.
According to the announcement, the session is designed “to spotlight the escalating violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria.” It added, “The roundtable will gather critical testimony to inform a comprehensive report – directed by President Trump – on the massacre of Nigerian Christians and the steps Congress can take to support the White House’s efforts to protect vulnerable faith communities worldwide.”
This briefing comes amid ongoing discussions between the US and Nigeria, following a recent increase in terrorist attacks, underscoring efforts to strengthen bilateral security collaboration.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu approved the Nigerian side of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, as part of measures to deepen cooperation in addressing security challenges.
The group’s formation follows an agreement reached during a recent trip to Washington, DC, by a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
According to a statement released on Thursday, Ribadu will lead the Nigerian side of the group, supported by a multi-stakeholder team composed of senior officials from relevant government bodies.
Nigeria’s security situation previously gained international attention when former US President Donald Trump sounded the alarm over a perceived genocide of Christians in the country, threatening to deploy the US military to Nigeria “guns-a-blazing.”
However, the Federal Government dismissed the claim, emphasizing that it was actively addressing security concerns.
President Tinubu also reassured that the safety of Nigerians remains a top priority, stressing that the country is committed to religious freedom and tolerance.
On November 21, the US House Subcommittee on Africa reviewed Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern. During the session, witnesses provided differing perspectives on the killings in Nigeria.
