Nigerian House of Representatives has unequivocally condemned a legislative bill currently making its way through the United States Congress, a proposal that seeks to label Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over allegations of widespread, systematic religious persecution and killings.
The lawmakers were resolute in their rejection of the narrative presented in the U.S. proposal, which they assert fundamentally misrepresents the nature of the country’s security crises as a targeted campaign against a single religious group.
During the debate on the floor, the Nigerian legislators vehemently argued that the claims suggesting a state-sponsored or systematic genocide, particularly against the Christian population, are baseless, malicious, and entirely misleading.
They stressed that the prevailing insecurity—driven by the actions of Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandit groups, and escalating communal conflicts—does not discriminate along religious lines.
Both Muslim and Christian communities across various regions, especially in the North and the Middle Belt, have endured tragic losses, mass kidnappings, and the destruction of their homes and places of worship, underscoring the non-discriminatory brutality of the criminal elements.
The House’s resolution, which was adopted with overwhelming support, pointed out the potential diplomatic damage and the severe implications of the U.S. bill, which aims to impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian officials.
The lawmakers view the proposed legislation as an unwarranted interference in Nigeria’s sovereignty and a dangerous simplification of complex, multi-layered socioeconomic and extremist conflicts.
They argued that such a skewed international portrayal only serves the divisive agenda of the terror groups operating within the country, validating their false claims of a religious war.
To counter this looming diplomatic threat, the House mandated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other key national security agencies to immediately launch a comprehensive diplomatic engagement.
The primary task is to compile and present empirical, verifiable evidence to the U.S. Congress, demonstrating that the violence is criminal and territorial, not rooted in religious bias or state policy.
This proactive measure is intended to decisively influence the outcome of the bill, safeguarding Nigeria’s international image and preventing the imposition of punitive sanctions that could strain the long-standing strategic partnership between the two nations and undermine current efforts to restore peace and stability across the country.
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