US House Passes Bill To Stop Foreign Aid To Nigeria Over Killing Of Christians
The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to withhold all American assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government meets specified conditions aimed at tackling violence and protecting Christians in the country.
The amendment, sponsored by Republican Congressman Gregory Steube, was adopted by a voice vote on Wednesday and incorporated into the fiscal 2027 State Department appropriations bill, which was later passed by the House in a narrow 217-209 vote.
Although the measure has been cleared by the House, it must still be approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Donald Trump before it can take effect. As a result, the vote does not immediately halt US assistance to Nigeria.
Announcing the outcome on his X account, Steube said the amendment was aimed at compelling the Nigerian government to take decisive action against attacks on Christians.
"My amendment to withhold 100% of U.S. aid to Nigeria until its government stops the slaughter of Christians has passed," he wrote.
“American taxpayers should never bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered. No more wasteful foreign aid!”
The amendment strengthens an earlier provision in the spending bill, which proposed withholding 50 per cent of US funds allocated to Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the country has taken effective steps to prevent violence and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
Steube's proposal raises the withholding threshold to 100 per cent while retaining the same certification requirements.
Speaking on the House floor before the vote, the Florida lawmaker accused the Nigerian government of failing to curb violence, describing the situation as a "horrific wave of violence" that authorities had not adequately addressed.
He argued that withholding only half of the aid would amount to rewarding a government that had failed in its responsibility to protect its citizens.
According to him, the amendment introduces no new conditions but simply strengthens existing accountability measures.
"Foreign aid should never be a reward for failure," Steube said.
He also linked the proposal to the United States' fiscal challenges, questioning why Washington should continue sending funds to Nigeria while America's national debt is approaching $40 trillion.
The House vote comes amid heightened tensions in US-Nigeria relations following President Donald Trump's 2025 redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of Christian persecution.
Meanwhile, both both countries have since deepened security cooperation aimed at combating terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria.