In a decisive move, Nigeria’s House of Representatives has denounced a bill introduced by U.S. lawmakers that accuses Nigerian officials of enabling the mass killing of Christians. During the plenary session held on Wednesday, the lower chamber unanimously adopted a resolution dismissing these allegations, affirming that there is no government-endorsed persecution of Christians within Nigeria. The resolution was championed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and supported by 359 members of the House.
The legislation under scrutiny, known as the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, was put forward by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. It proposes imposing sanctions on Nigerian officials allegedly responsible for enforcing Sharia and blasphemy laws, recommends that the U.S. Secretary of State designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” and insists that Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa remain classified as entities of special concern.
This bill emerges amid ongoing international assertions that Nigerian Christians are victims of systematic persecution-a claim the Nigerian government has repeatedly refuted.
Deputy Speaker Kalu, while presenting the motion, highlighted that although the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently suggested Nigeria be labeled a country of concern, such claims do not accurately depict the nation’s reality. He underscored that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Furthermore, successive governments, security agencies, religious leaders, and civil society organizations have consistently worked to safeguard all worshippers and bring perpetrators to justice.
Kalu emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges are multifaceted, involving insurgency, banditry, conflicts between farmers and herders, separatist movements, and communal violence-issues that impact citizens regardless of their faith. He cautioned that foreign legislative measures based on partial or decontextualized information risk infringing on Nigeria’s sovereignty, distorting facts, straining diplomatic ties, and inadvertently encouraging violent groups.
Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere added to the discussion by noting that the bill has already passed its second reading in the U.S. Senate. He warned that if enacted, it could tarnish Nigeria’s international standing and require substantial efforts to reverse its effects. Ihonvbere stressed that Nigerians are grappling with economic, social, and security difficulties-not religious persecution-and described the bill as a calculated attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic achievements.
Oluwole Oke, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, criticized the U.S. Senate for excluding Nigerian officials and diplomats from the bill’s public hearings, calling it a deliberate effort to damage Nigeria’s reputation. Similarly, Edo State representative Billy Osawaru lamented Nigeria’s current lack of an ambassador to the United States, which he said hindered effective engagement with American lawmakers.
After thorough deliberations, the House firmly rejected the portrayal of Nigeria’s security issues as religiously motivated or state-sponsored persecution. It reaffirmed the country’s dedication to upholding constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and belief.
The House directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., to file a formal complaint with the United Nations. It also urged U.S. legislators to consider establishing a joint Nigeria-U.S. fact-finding and dialogue mission to foster mutual understanding.
The Committee on Legislative Compliance was assigned the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of these resolutions and reporting progress back to the House within 28 days.
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