The US Congress has approved an amendment to increase the withholding of certain U.S. aid to Nigeria from 50% to 100% until the country takes significant steps to combat violence and improve citizen protection.
The amendment, proposed by Representative Gregory Steube of Florida’s 17th Congressional District, was adopted by voice vote on Wednesday.
The new amendment would boost the withholding to 100 percent while maintaining the same conditions for the funds’ release.
Speaking in support of his motion, Steube said withholding only 50 percent of the funds appeared to reward the Nigerian government “despite failure to meet its fundamental obligation to protect citizens”.
“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria, from 50 percent to 100 percent. While keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country.
“Nigeria has faced a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address.
“For years, and especially in recent months, Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria have been subjected to violence and terrorism at the hands of extremists operating with impunity.
“Christian women and girls continue to be abducted, assaulted, tortured, and killed. Their churches are burned, and entire communities are erased.
“If the aid conditions included in the bill are important enough to withhold half of all the funding to the Nigerian government, then they are important enough to withhold all of the funding.
“Never should we allow their hard earned tax dollars to be funnelled to corrupt regimes that fail to uphold religious freedom, fail to adequately confront terrorism, and fail to protect the innocent from persecution.
“So, why are we rewarding a government that fails to meet such a basic obligation?”
Backstory…
The move by the US Congress marks the latest chapter in months of growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation by American lawmakers and the Trump administration.
Since late 2025, Washington has repeatedly expressed concern over the persistent killings in parts of Nigeria, particularly attacks on Christian farming communities in Benue, Plateau and other states.
President Donald Trump has at various times threatened sanctions and other measures against Nigeria over what he described as the Federal Government’s failure to adequately protect vulnerable communities. The issue has also featured prominently during congressional hearings and investigations into religious freedom and insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation.
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