A United States appropriations bill seeks to tie part of American assistance to Nigeria to stronger protection for Christians and increased accountability within the country’s police force.
The development was contained in a statement issued by United States Congressman Riley M. Moore following House passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Act.
The legislation makes U.S. assistance to Nigeria conditional on measurable progress in protecting Christians, with particular attention to addressing threats attributed to Fulani terrorists and supporting the return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral communities. It also provides funding to support training and increasing accountability for police forces in Nigeria, while reaffirming recommendations earlier presented by Moore to President Donald Trump.
Speaking on the measure, Moore said: “Christians in Nigeria continue to endure horrific violence, murder, and persecution while a majority of the world turns a blind eye to their suffering. President Trump has taken bold actions to strike the terrorists in Nigeria, and this bill sends a clear message that the United States will continue to stand with persecuted Christians across the globe, especially in Nigeria.”
The lawmaker said the measure also strengthens oversight of foreign governments and ensures U.S. public funds are directed toward national priorities. He stated: “This important bill also holds foreign governments accountable and ensures American taxpayer dollars advance our national interests. I was proud to secure provisions that strengthen accountability, combat human trafficking, protect free speech, push back on mass migration, and advance President Trump’s America First foreign policy.”
The bill allocates $47.32 billion in discretionary funding, representing a reduction of $2.69 billion from Fiscal Year 2026 spending levels. It places emphasis on support for U.S. allies while addressing threats linked to Communist China, Iran, the Taliban and transnational criminal organisations. It also ends funding for several programmes introduced during the Biden administration on climate policies, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and gender-related programmes.
Moore, working with NSRP Appropriations Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart, secured provisions in both the appropriations bill and the accompanying committee report aimed at tackling religious persecution, with special attention to Christian communities in Nigeria.
Among the measures is a provision making 50 per cent of U.S. assistance to Nigeria subject to measurable actions taken by the country to protect Christians from religiously motivated violence. Other provisions promote law enforcement partnerships with Nigeria, expand efforts to prevent atrocities and human trafficking, examine the effects of mass migration on host communities, protect natural rights and national sovereignty initiatives, and retain long-standing pro-life safeguards.
The legislation also directs the U.S. State Department to submit reports to Congress and the President on actions required to end targeted attacks against Christians in Nigeria. It sets aside funding to address ritualised murder and organ trafficking in Africa, strengthens oversight of foreign assistance programmes and bars the use of federal funds for censorship activities targeting American citizens.
The measure retains existing pro-life protections, including the Helms, Kemp-Kasten, Siljander, Tiahrt and Hyde-Lantos amendments, as it moves through the remaining stages of the House appropriations process for the 2027 fiscal year.