KEY POINTS
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APC USA seeks to clarify the Nigeria CPC designation.
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The Nigeria CPC designation review includes security and religious data.
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APC USA emphasizes progress under President Tinubu amid Nigeria CPC designation.
The US division of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress is to present itself before legislators in Washington as the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa readies to reassess Nigeria’s classification as a “Country of Particular Concern.” The designation, released in late October 2025 under former President Donald Trump’s administration, charged Nigeria with inadequately addressing religious persecution and cautioned that ongoing turmoil could result in restrictions on US aid.
APC USA addresses Nigeria CPC concerns
In a correspondence to Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith, APC USA expressed its readiness to dispatch a high-level delegation to provide direct insights and data regarding the prevailing conditions on the ground. Professor Tai Balofin, the chairman of the group, stated that the objective is to challenge narratives he perceives as oversimplifying the origins of violence in various regions of the country.
Balofin stated that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solely attributed to religious animosity. He identified converging factors, such as banditry in rural areas, rivalry for land and water, climate-induced relocation, and transnational criminal networks. He contended that testifying before Congress could assist politicians in evaluating a wider context prior to adopting stances that may affect future policy.
The party aims to emphasize what it perceives as advancements under President Bola Tinubu. These encompass efforts to undermine armed factions, enhancements to early-warning systems, and increased collaboration among religious communities. Balofin indicated that the material would be substantiated by Nigerian security reports and conclusions from international monitoring organizations.
Congress examines Nigeria CPC concerns
The request arises from Nigeria’s objections to a recent UN event organized by rapper Nicki Minaj, which centered on allegations of targeted assaults against members of a specific religious minority. Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, condemned the decision to convene the conference without the participation of any officials from Abuja, asserting that debates of such magnitude should engage the government whose actions are being examined.
According to The Guardian, the Subcommittee will convene at 11 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Anticipated witnesses on the panel comprise senior State Department officials Jonathan Pratt and Jacob McGee, Nina Shea from the Centre for Religious Freedom, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese, and Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic & International Studies.
Legislators intend to assess the gravity of allegations of religious persecution and consider potential measures, including sanctions and humanitarian initiatives. Tinubu has refuted the allegations associated with the CPC label, asserting that Nigeria adheres to constitutional safeguards for religious freedom and cautioning that representations of the nation as antagonistic towards faith organizations misrepresent its actual circumstances.
