US REPS ASK TRUMP TO RETAIN NIGERIA VISA SANCTION, STOP BEEF EXPORT OVER CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION CLAIMS
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U.S. lawmakers have asked President Donald Trump to keep the visa penalties on people accused of attacking Christians in Nigeria and to think about stopping beef exports that are connected to armed herders.
The suggestions were part of a report from the House appropriations and foreign affairs committees about the reported mistreatment of Christians in Nigeria.
The report has been submitted to the White House.
On Monday, the lawmakers stated that the report‘s findings came from a thorough investigation. This included talking to expert witnesses, holding a hearing and a roundtable discussion, conducting on-the-ground assessments with bipartisan congressional groups in Nigeria, and working closely with the Trump administration.
“Nigeria has become the most dangerous place in the world to practice the Christian faith, as jihadist networks exploit weak enforcement and limited accountability to carry out sustained and coordinated violence against civilians,” the house members said in a statement.
“Committee members witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences for innocent communities, regional stability, and U.S. national security interests.”
One suggestion asked Trump to make a deal between the US and Nigeria to keep Christian groups safe and stop terrorist attacks by extremists.
The agreement should have both countries work together on trade and also focus on stopping other countries like China and Russia from influencing the area.
It also said that by stopping the sale of Russian weapons, the US could sell its own weapons there through trade and money support, according to the report.
The agreement would also see the US providing technical support to Nigeria to eliminate violence from armed militias, including by developing a programme that would address illicit weapons and allow farmers to engage in “legitimate self-defense”, support the livestock ministry with ranching plans, and counteract Chinese illegal mining operations and their “practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias”.
HALT FUNDING TO NIGERIA UNTIL PROOF OF PROGRESS
The lawmakers also recommended withholding additional funding to Nigeria until action is taken to stop violence against Christians.
The measure is part of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026. This law asks for programs that work on religious freedom by making legal changes and stopping terrorist financing.
The Treasury Department was also given the job of making plans to improve the strength and safety of Nigeria’s financial system.
This will help protect US national security and support a better trade balance for the US.
Lawmakers also suggested that the US Development Finance Corporation should invest in the Middle Belt region.
CONTINUED VISA SANCTIONS ON PERPETRATORS OF VIOLENCE, HALT FULANI BEEF EXPORTS
This month, some Republican lawmakers proposed a bill that might label “Fulani ethnic militias” as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) because of “religious violence” in Nigeria. The bill also asks for penalties, like banning visas and freezing assets, against “individuals or groups that have committed serious violations of religious freedom” in Nigeria.
The entities and individual listed for sanctions were Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and those described as “Fulani-ethnic nomad militias in Nigeria”.
In Monday’s report, lawmakers recommended that the sanctions be implemented and sustained.
They also demanded the repeal of the Sharia law and criminal anti-blasphemy laws; and using points of leverage to compel herders to disarm, including by blocking export of beef and other cattle-related products to markets in Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, and Senegal.
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