US Lawmaker Hands Trump Report Calling for Sanctions, Sharia Repeal Over Attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
A US lawmaker has presented a formal report to President Donald Trump urging tough measures to address attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria, including a demand for the repeal of sharia and blasphemy laws in parts of the country.
Congressman Riley M. Moore, alongside members of the House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs, submitted the document at the White House on Monday. The report follows months of investigation into what the US lawmaker described as persistent violence against Christians in Nigeria .
The submission comes after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October 2025 under the US International Religious Freedom Act. Trump had tasked Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to lead a congressional investigation into the matter.
Speaking after the White House meeting, Moore said the report was the result of extensive work that included a visit to Nigeria.
“I travelled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and saw with my own eyes the horrific atrocities Christians face, and the instability the Nigerian government must combat,” Moore said in a statement .
According to the congressman, the team held hearings with expert witnesses, consulted religious leaders, met with internally displaced persons, and engaged with senior Nigerian government officials during their investigation .
Key Recommendations in the Report
The report outlines several concrete actions it wants the US government to pursue :
- Security agreement: Establishing a bilateral US-Nigeria security pact to protect vulnerable Christian communities and dismantle jihadist networks
- Funding conditions: Withholding certain US funds pending demonstrable action by the Nigerian government to stop violence against Christians
- Sanctions: Implementing sanctions and visa restrictions against individuals and groups responsible for religious persecution
- Legal reforms: Demanding the repeal of sharia and blasphemy laws in northern Nigeria
- Technical support: Providing assistance to help Nigeria address violence from armed militias
- International cooperation: Working with partners including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom
Twelve northern Nigerian states currently operate parallel sharia legal systems alongside secular courts, mostly handling civil and personal matters for Muslim residents. Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about blasphemy laws and due process in some cases.
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Mixed Reactions and Nigerian Government Position
The report has generated mixed reactions. Some will see it as a strong stance against religious violence, while others may view it as interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of state-sponsored persecution. Officials maintain that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths and that the country faces complex security challenges from multiple armed groups .
In previous responses to the CPC designation, Nigerian officials pointed to the country’s religious diversity. Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi had earlier stated that the security situation is not targeted at any particular ethnic or religious group .
Former Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo had also pushed back against the narrative, noting that President Bola Tinubu, though a Muslim, has family members who are Christians, including his wife who is a pastor. Keyamo argued it would be “unthinkable” to imagine the administration targeting Christians.
What Happens Next
The White House has not yet announced specific policy actions following the report’s submission. However, analysts note that any move to impose sanctions or condition US assistance could affect diplomatic ties between the two countries, which cooperate on counter-terrorism, regional security, and trade .
Moore urged Nigerian authorities to use this moment to strengthen relations with Washington.
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“Our brothers and sisters in Christ have suffered in silence for too long. The world is now watching, and I urge the Nigerian government to take the opportunity to deepen and strengthen its relationship with the United States,” he said .
The US and Nigeria have a long history of security cooperation, particularly in counter-terrorism efforts against Boko Haram and other extremist groups operating in the northeast. In January 2026, both countries established a joint working group to address the CPC designation and explore ways to reduce violence against vulnerable groups .
For now, the ball appears to be in the court of both governments as they work through the recommendations contained in the congressional report. Whether this leads to actual policy changes or remains a diplomatic exchange remains to be seen.
US Lawmaker Hands Trump Report Calling for Sanctions, Sharia Repeal Over Attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
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