The House of Representatives has rubbished the move by the United States of America (USA) to declare Nigeria as a “Country of Particularly Concern”, as it said the claim of genocide against Christians is false.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and others on the “Urgent Need for a Coordinated Diplomatic_and Domestic Response to the Proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (U.S. Senate Bill S.2747) and to mischaracterization of Nigeria’s . Security and Religious-Freedom Landscape”, on Wednesday at plenary.
The Lawmakers rejected outrightly narratives that frame Nigeria’s security crisis as a singularly religious conflict or as state-sponsored persecution, and restated Nigeria’s constitutional protections for freedom of religion and belief.
It also condemned all forms of violence and persecution against any person or group on the basis of religion or belief and commiserated with all victims irrespective of faith.
In his lead debate, Kalu noted that on 9th September 2025, a bill titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747) was introduced in the United States Senate seeking to require the U.S. Secretary of State to designate Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) and to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky) and related authorities.
He explained that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has in recent Annual Reports recommended Nigeria for CPC designation, citing persistent violations and state failures to protect against non-state actor abuses.
“Recognises that Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion and bars adoption of a State religion, and that successive administrations, security agencies, faith leaders and civil society continue to undertake measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders, as reflected in the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 country chapter and prior reports.
“Observes that insecurity in Nigeria is complex and multi-causal – driven by insurgency, criminal banditry, farmer-herder conflict, separatist violence and communal disputes – affecting citizens of all faiths; international reporting attributes a significant share of fatalities to terrorist groups and criminal gangs rather than State policy or a single religious dynamic.
“Concerned that external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualised assessments risk undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, misrepresenting facts, straining strategic relations, and unintentionally emboldening violent actors.
“Mindful of Nigeria’s longstanding partnership with the United States on
counter-terrorism, human rights, democratic governance and inter-faith _ dialogue, and the African Union’s emphasis on tolerance and inclusive societies”
“Mr. Speaker, some of us here will not fully appreciate the importance of this move in the U.S. Senate. It has been read twice on the floor of the Senate and referred to in public as we speak. And if we do not take urgent steps to meet it in the board and it passes the Senate, to reverse it will take us a longer time and cost us even more resources.
“Mr. Speaker, the main problem here comes from, one, those who deliberately demarcate Nigeria outside the country, including Nigerians, for a variety of reasons. Two, gross misinformation deeply embedded in the nature of the American educational system. In other words, for many of the children, many of the parents, even some legislators, they look at Nigeria in the eyes of the 1950s and 60s.
“They do not believe that this country has matured and grown beyond this issue of ethnic contestation and disagreements and disloyalty over issues. Over the years, we have gone beyond this. I can’t even remember when last communities started fighting because of the Bible or the Koran or because they wanted to worship Ugo or Shakuna.
“No, Nigerians are concerned with existential issues. And I think the bill, or the motion, as simply presented by the Deputy Speaker, requires us to use all the networks we have and to encourage all the relevant communities on behalf and also get the Senate to get involved in this, to engage those who are having this matter on behalf of the U.S. government.
“When Ted Cruz raised this issue, many people thought it was just a statement.
It is not. There is an agenda designed to rubbish some of the progress we have made so far in rolling back those enemies, those contradictions, those contestation that have continued to undermine our democracy and encourage new institutions and industries that have promoted corruption and misunderstanding in our society”.
Contributing to the motion, Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the misinformation about Nigeria must be corrected, lamenting that “many people, including Nigerians, are bent on demarketing the country.”
On his part, the member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Hon. Sada Soli, urged the Federal Government to strongly register Nigeria’s disappointment at what he described as “a deliberate attempt to dent her image.”
“We must redeem the image of our beloved country,” Soli said, warning that failure to act decisively would send the wrong signal to the international community.
Also speaking, Edo lawmaker, Hon. Billy Osawaru, decried Nigeria’s diplomatic lapses, noting that “Nigeria does not even have an Ambassador to the United States of America at the moment.” He stressed that the situation must be urgently rectified, as Nigeria “cannot afford to fail the African continent.”
In its resolutions, the House condemned all forms of violence and persecution on religious grounds, while reaffirming Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to freedom of religion and belief.
It also mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Interior, Information, National Orientation and Values, Police Affairs, Civil Society, and Human Rights to coordinate within 21 days with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., to lodge a formal diplomatic protest against the U.S. bill.
The committees were also directed to initiate a Nigeria–U.S. Joint Fact-Finding and Dialogue Mechanism on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), involving faith leaders, independent experts, and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Additionally, the House mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure full implementation of the resolutions and report back within 28 days.
With the unanimous adoption of the motion, the House reaffirmed its commitment to defending Nigeria’s image globally and ensuring that its relations with international partners are based on facts, fairness, and mutual respect.
The House also directed that the resolution be transmitted to the Presidency, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and heads of security agencies; as well as the United States Congress leadership (Senate Foreign Relations; House Foreign Affairs), the U.S. Department of State, and USCIRF; The African Union and ECOWAS Commissions.
