In a decisive move that marks a significant shift in American foreign policy toward Nigeria, Representatives Riley Moore (R-WV) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, have introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (H.R. 7457). The legislation seeks to condition U.S. assistance to Nigeria on concrete actions to end the systematic persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.
A Response to Escalating Violence
The bill comes amid mounting evidence of what human rights organizations describe as genocide against Christians in Nigeria. According to recent data from the European Union Agency for Asylum, at least 7,087 Christians were killed and 7,800 abducted in Nigeria between January 1 and August 10, 2025 alone. Over the past fourteen years, more than 52,250 Christians have lost their lives due to persecution related to their faith.
The violence has been particularly severe in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where Fulani militants often described as jihadists have been responsible for 55% of recorded Christian deaths between 2019 and 2023. Attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), and armed Fulani herdsmen have displaced millions, destroyed churches, and created what Open Doors USA now calls “the deadliest country in the world for Christians.”
Key Provisions of the Legislation:
The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 establishes several critical mechanisms:
1. Mandatory State Department Reporting: The bill requires the U.S. Secretary of State to submit comprehensive annual reports on religious freedom conditions in Nigeria, documenting violations, identifying perpetrators, and assessing the Nigerian government’s response.
2. Aid Conditionality: U.S. foreign assistance to Nigeria would be conditioned on the Nigerian government’s demonstrated commitment to protecting religious minorities, prosecuting perpetrators of religious violence, and ending impunity for attacks on Christians.
3. Accountability Measures: The legislation authorizes sanctions against Nigerian officials and entities complicit in religious persecution, including asset freezes and travel bans.
4. Victim Support: The bill directs resources toward documenting abuses, supporting victims of religious violence, and promoting religious freedom initiatives.
Bipartisan Concern Over Inaction
Representative Chris Smith, a longtime advocate for international religious freedom, has been vocal about the Nigerian government’s failure to protect its Christian citizens. “The systematic slaughter of Christians in Nigeria has been allowed to continue with impunity for far too long,” Smith stated in a press release. “This bill sends a clear message: the United States will no longer fund a government that stands by while its Christian citizens are massacred.”
Representative Riley Moore emphasized the moral imperative behind the legislation: “The U.S. is a Christian nation, and we have a responsibility to stand with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. When a government fails to protect half of its population from religious extermination, that government forfeits its claim to unrestricted American support.”
International Pressure Mounts
The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) has urgently called for swift passage of the legislation. “Millions of Nigerian Christians have endured appalling levels of violence and repression for years, as have a substantial number of Muslims who oppose Islamic extremism,” RFI stated. “This accountability framework is long overdue.”
The bill also aligns with broader congressional efforts to address religious persecution globally. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the Senate, signaling bicameral support for conditioning aid on religious freedom protections.
Nigeria’s Strategic Position
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, has long been a key U.S. partner in counterterrorism efforts and regional stability. However, critics argue that American security cooperation has inadvertently enabled a government that tolerates or in some cases facilitates religious cleansing.
The Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but enforcement has been weak, particularly in northern states where Sharia law operates parallel to civil courts. Human rights organizations document a pattern of security forces failing to intervene during attacks on Christian communities, arresting survivors rather than perpetrators, and allowing mass graves to remain uninvestigated.
What This Means for U.S.-Nigeria Relations
If passed, H.R. 7457 would fundamentally reshape the bilateral relationship. The Nigerian government would face a clear choice: implement meaningful protections for religious minorities and prosecute those responsible for atrocities, or risk losing critical U.S. assistance.
The legislation also reflects a growing recognition in Washington that religious freedom is not merely a moral concern but a national security imperative. Regions where religious persecution goes unchecked often become breeding grounds for terrorism, extremism, and mass migration threats that eventually reach American shores.
A Test of American Conviction
For Nigeria’s persecuted Christians, the bill represents hope after years of feeling abandoned by the international community. “We are not asking for special treatment,” said one Nigerian Christian leader who requested anonymity due to safety concerns. “We are asking for the Nigerian government to do its job: protect all citizens equally, regardless of faith.”
As the 119th Congress considers this legislation, the world will be watching. The question is no longer whether genocide is occurring in Nigeria the evidence is overwhelming. The question is whether the United States will use its leverage to stop it.
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