The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment that would withhold 100 per cent of US assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government takes effective steps to address violence against Christians and holds perpetrators accountable.
The amendment, sponsored by Republican Congressman Gregory Steube, was adopted by a voice vote on Wednesday and added to the fiscal year 2027 State Department spending bill, which later passed the House by a 217-209 vote.
According to Punch, the underlying bill had initially proposed withholding 50 per cent of US assistance to Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the country has taken effective measures to prevent violence and ensure accountability. Steube’s amendment increased the withholding to 100 per cent while retaining the same certification requirements.
Announcing the development on X, Steube said the amendment ensures American taxpayers do not fund governments that fail to protect Christians from abductions, killings and other forms of violence.
During debate on the House floor, the congressman accused the Nigerian government of failing to adequately address persistent attacks, describing the measure as an accountability mechanism rather than the introduction of new conditions.
He also argued that foreign aid should not reward governments that fail to meet basic obligations to protect their citizens and cited America’s growing national debt as another reason to tighten foreign assistance.
The proposal, however, has not yet become law. It must still be approved by the US Senate and signed by President Donald Trump before it can take effect. As a result, the House vote does not immediately affect US funding to Nigeria.
The vote follows the Trump administration’s 2025 redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of Christian persecution. Despite tensions that followed a US missile strike on Nigerian territory on Christmas Day, both countries have since maintained security cooperation aimed at combating terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria.
