The House of Representatives has strongly condemned a bill introduced in the United States Congress that accuses Nigeria of tolerating religious killings and violations of religious freedom.
The bill, titled “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025” (S.2747), seeks to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for allegedly engaging in and tolerating systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom.
The House unanimously supported a motion moved by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, describing the claims as “false and misleading” and insisting that Nigeria is not facing a religious crisis. According to Kalu, the bill’s sponsors are “grossly misinformed about the state of religious freedom in Nigeria.”
The Federal Government has also rejected similar claims, with Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris stating that portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality. The government has maintained that the country’s insecurity stems from criminal and terrorist activities, not religion.
Lawmakers stressed that portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious issue could endanger national unity. They urged the relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to compile and transmit empirical evidence disproving the allegations and to engage diplomatically with U.S. authorities to correct the narrative.
The House directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with international partners to counter the bill’s narrative and protect Nigeria’s image. “We cannot allow foreign interference in our internal affairs,” a lawmaker said. The bill’s passage could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s relations with the United States and its global reputation.
The House of Representatives has urged the National Assembly’s leadership and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage diplomatically with U.S. authorities to correct what they called a “dangerous misrepresentation” that could harm Nigeria’s global image.
