Just before the close of business on February 22,2026 Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia delivered to the White House a report outlining concrete actions to end the persecutions of Christians in Nigeria.
This document was done at the personal request of President Trump who requested Congressman Moore along with Chairman Tom Cole of the House Appropriations Committee to lead a comprehensive investigation on the persecution of Christian communities and the security challenges that plague multiple regions in Nigeria.
The findings are not much of a surprise to some advocates. Nigeria is one of the deadliest places in the world to be a Christian. In the recently released World Watch List by the advocacy group Open Doors Nigeria ranked # 8 out of the 50 nations where Christians are persecuted. In the entry for Nigeria one line sticks out. “Nigeria has been the most violent place in the world for the followers of Jesus for years.”
This report is the follow-up of an investigation that lasted several months including a bipartisan congressional delegation to Nigeria, hearing with expert witnesses, consultations with religious leaders, meetings with Internally Displaced People and engagement with senior Nigerian Government officials.
Some of the recommendations that were made include
– Establishing a bilateral U.S.–Nigeria security agreement to protect vulnerable Christian communities and dismantle jihadist networks.
– Withholding certain U.S. funds, pending demonstrable action by the Nigerian government to stop violence against Christians.
– Implementing sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals and groups responsible for or complicit in religious persecution.
– Providing technical support to the Nigerian government to eliminate violence from armed Fulani militias.
– Demanding the repeal of Sharia and blasphemy laws
– Working with international partners including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom
Deep inside the language for the U.S.-Nigeria security agreement is some interesting language. In exchange for expanding the security cooperation with the United States there is a call for Nigeria to divest from Russian Military Equipment to American Military Equipment. No mention is made regarding the use of Chinese Equipment by Nigerian Security Forces. In September 2025 the Nigerian Military acquired the Chinese made Sky Whale UAV system. Also, the Nigerian Air Force has been having discussions with Pakistan regarding the acquiring of the JF-17 Fighter plane. This is a joint project of Pakistan and China,
One phrase that has been used over the last few years has been “If Nigeria collapses so does the region.” That concept is addressed as well. Comprehensive counterterrorism to rid the region of Foreign Terrorist Organizations that pose a direct threat to the American Homeland including through the provision of excess defense equipment and use of relevant drawdown authorities.
Another major issue that is often raised by advocates both on the ground in Nigeria and here in the United States has been the lack of focus on the Fulani. There are suggestions that call for the group to go through a DDR program, Supporting the new Ministry of Livestock and land reforms and even allowing some farmers to defend themselves. This part probably will cause the most angst in Nigeria. One proposal will see exports of beef and other cattle related products to countries like Ivory Coast, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal.
Any funds that will be sent to Nigeria will come under scrutiny. One key provision is that the funds can be withheld from Nigeria if there are no signs of progress in key areas such as Religious Freedom are noticed.
A NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) on Nigeria’s sectarian and communal violence and review classifying Fulani militant groups with links to terrorist groups as well as other groups conducting organized campaigns of violence that threaten the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
This is a copious amount of data to unpack in two short pages. However, the myriads of issues affecting Nigeria show that a multi-faceted effort will be needed to resolve the issue.
