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The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to suspend all American assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government demonstrates measurable progress in tackling insecurity, protecting civilians and holding perpetrators of violence accountable.
The amendment, sponsored by Congressman Gregory Steube of Florida’s 17th Congressional District, was adopted by a voice vote on Wednesday.
It raises the proposed aid withholding threshold from 50 per cent to 100 per cent, significantly tightening conditions attached to future US assistance to Nigeria.
The House had earlier proposed withholding half of the appropriated funds pending certification by the US Secretary of State that Nigeria had taken effective measures to prevent violence, protect vulnerable communities and ensure accountability for attacks across the country.
Speaking in support of the amendment, Steube argued that withholding only half of the funding amounted to rewarding a government that had failed to fulfil its primary responsibility of protecting its citizens.
“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria, from 50 per cent to 100 per cent, while keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country,” he said.
The lawmaker accused the Nigerian government of failing to curb years of violence affecting Christians and other religious minorities, saying extremist groups had continued to operate with little consequence.
“Nigeria has faced a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address,” Steube said.
“For years, and especially in recent months, Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria have been subjected to violence and terrorism at the hands of extremists operating with impunity.”
He further alleged that women and girls had continued to suffer grave abuses while churches were destroyed and communities displaced.
“Christian women and girls continue to be abducted, assaulted, tortured, and killed. Their churches are burned, and entire communities are erased.”
Steube argued that if the conditions attached to US assistance were important enough to justify withholding half of the funding, they should warrant the suspension of the entire package until the required benchmarks are met.
“If the aid conditions included in the bill are important enough to withhold half of all the funding to the Nigerian government, then they are important enough to withhold all of the funding.”
He added that American taxpayers’ money should not be channelled to governments that fail to guarantee security, religious freedom and the rule of law.
“The generosity of our taxpayers is a reflection of the American values we hold so firmly.
“Never should we allow their hard-earned tax dollars to be funnelled to corrupt regimes that fail to uphold religious freedom, fail to adequately confront terrorism, and fail to protect the innocent from persecution.”
“So, why are we rewarding a government that fails to meet such a basic obligation?”
The congressman also cited America’s growing fiscal challenges, noting that the country’s national debt was approaching $40 trillion, and insisted that US foreign assistance should be used strategically to advance accountability and protect American interests.
The proposed measure comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the two countries. In 2025, President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of religious persecution.
Despite subsequent security cooperation between Abuja and Washington, including a joint military partnership targeting terrorist groups in northern Nigeria, the latest congressional action signals growing concern among US lawmakers over Nigeria’s security situation.
The amendment must still complete the remaining stages of the US legislative process before becoming law.
