BREAKING: US House Passes Bill to Withhold All Aid to Nigeria Over Alleged Christian Persecution
The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to withhold 100 per cent of U.S. assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government meets specific conditions aimed at addressing violence, particularly against Christians.
The amendment, sponsored by Congressman Gregory Steube, was adopted through a voice vote on Wednesday and incorporated into the fiscal year 2027 State Department appropriations bill. The spending bill was subsequently passed by the House with a 217-209 vote, largely along party lines.
Announcing the development on X, Steube said, “My amendment to withhold 100% of U.S. aid to Nigeria until its government stops the slaughter of Christians has passed.
“American taxpayers should never bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered. No more wasteful foreign aid!”
The original version of the spending bill proposed withholding 50 per cent of funds appropriated for Nigeria until the U.S. Secretary of State certifies that the country has taken effective steps to prevent violence and hold perpetrators accountable. However, Steube’s amendment increases the proposed withholding to 100 per cent while retaining the same certification requirements.
Speaking on the House floor, the Florida lawmaker accused the Nigerian government of failing to address persistent violence in the country, describing the situation as unacceptable. He argued that withholding only half of the assistance would amount to rewarding a government that had failed in its basic responsibility to protect its citizens.
Steube maintained that the amendment introduces no new conditions but simply strengthens the existing provision by making full compliance a prerequisite for the release of U.S. assistance.
He also linked the proposal to America’s fiscal challenges, questioning the rationale for continuing to provide financial assistance to Nigeria while the United States’ national debt approaches $40 trillion.
Despite its passage in the House, the measure has not yet become law. It must still be approved by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Donald Trump before it can take effect. As a result, the House vote does not immediately alter existing U.S. assistance to Nigeria.
The development comes after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern in 2025 over allegations of Christian persecution.
It also follows a period of strained diplomatic relations after a U.S. missile strike on Nigerian territory on Christmas Day, although both countries have since strengthened security cooperation in combating terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria.