US LAWMAKERS REVIEW NIGERIA'S CPC DESIGNATION, CITE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AND NNAMDI KANU DETENTION

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Agency Report

The United States House Subcommittee on Africa on Thursday held a public hearing to assess President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a *Country of Particular Concern (CPC)* over alleged violations of religious freedom.

The session, chaired by Representative Chris Smith, convened at 5 p.m. in Washington, D.C., and featured testimony from senior U.S. State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders. Lawmakers examined the potential consequences of the CPC status, which could lead to sanctions against Nigerian officials and limit certain categories of U.S. aid.

Speaking during the hearing, Representative John James, former Africa Subcommittee chairman and current member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, described the situation as alarming.

“Extremist groups like Boko Haram, Fulani militants and ISIS West Africa attack often without any meaningful intervention from authorities,” he said.

“The lack of response has created an atmosphere of impunity where Christians continue to live in constant threat and fear.”

James also drew attention to the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

“In 2022, Nigeria’s Court of Appeals struck down the charges against him and ordered his release. The UN Working Group for Arbitrary Detention has also called for his unconditional release, yet he remains in solitary confinement,” he stated, adding that Kanu’s conviction “just hours ago this morning” further demonstrated selective enforcement of the law.

When asked whether the Nigerian government had been infiltrated by extremist elements, Jonathan Pratt, Senior Bureau Official at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, responded:

> “I do not believe that the government of Nigeria has been infiltrated by jihadists.”

Pressed further on the government’s response to the CPC designation, Pratt confirmed Nigeria is taking the matter seriously.

“There is a senior delegation here now. They will meet with the most senior officials of the U.S. government this week. We have already demarched the government in Abuja and here in Washington on the action plan, and the results so far have been positive in terms of cooperation,” he said.

The redesignation, if upheld by the U.S. Senate, could trigger diplomatic repercussions and increase pressure on Nigeria to address reported abuses.