US Lawmakers Push Tougher Measures Over Global Religious Freedom, Flag Nigeria as High Risk
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
Lawmakers in the United States have called on the federal government to adopt tougher measures against countries accused of violating religious freedom, with Nigeria highlighted as a major area of concern amid rising global persecution.
The appeal was made during a congressional hearing that examined growing threats to religious liberty worldwide, particularly in parts of Africa and Asia. Testimonies presented to lawmakers warned that Nigeria faces an escalating risk of large-scale religious violence if urgent action is not taken.
Former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, told the hearing that Nigeria has become one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians, citing persistent attacks, displacement of communities, and deepening insecurity linked to extremist violence.
The session, jointly convened by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, reviewed the effectiveness of current US responses, including Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom violations.
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, Rep. Chris Smith, acknowledged that the designation was an important step but argued that it had not gone far enough. He urged the US government to deploy additional policy tools provided under US law, including sanctions and economic penalties, to pressure offending governments.
Smith also criticised previous policy decisions that removed Nigeria from the concern list, warning that such actions weakened accountability and emboldened perpetrators of religious violence. He insisted that sustained pressure is necessary to protect both Christians and moderate Muslims facing targeted attacks.
In his submission, Brownback further cautioned that Nigeria sits at the centre of a broader regional threat, with early signs of expanding religious conflict across Africa. He also raised concerns about the influence of foreign powers in Nigeria’s security landscape, arguing that external involvement could further complicate efforts to restore stability.
US lawmakers concluded the hearing by stressing the need for stronger leadership and consistency in defending religious freedom globally, noting that failure to act decisively could worsen humanitarian and security crises in vulnerable regions.
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