US House Approves Proposal to Suspend All Aid to Nigeria Over Insecurity
The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to withhold all U.S. assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government takes effective steps to combat terrorism, curb violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
The amendment, sponsored by Representative Gregory Steube of Florida, was adopted by a voice vote during consideration of a U.S. appropriations bill.
The proposal increases an earlier recommendation to withhold 50 per cent of U.S. assistance, raising the threshold to 100 per cent. It also retains the requirement that the U.S. Secretary of State certify that Nigeria has taken effective measures to prevent and respond to violence before assistance can resume.
Speaking on the House floor, Steube argued that the Nigerian government had failed to adequately protect its citizens, particularly Christians and other religious minorities affected by attacks from extremist groups.
He said the amendment was intended to ensure that U.S. assistance is tied to measurable progress in addressing insecurity and protecting vulnerable communities.
Steube maintained that if lawmakers considered the situation serious enough to justify withholding half of the assistance, they should also support suspending all funding until the required benchmarks are met.
He further questioned continued U.S. aid to Nigeria, citing persistent insecurity and concerns over the use of American taxpayer funds.
The amendment builds on an earlier proposal introduced in April and reflects growing scrutiny in Washington over Nigeria’s security challenges.
Despite concerns raised by some U.S. lawmakers, Nigeria and the United States have continued security cooperation, particularly in efforts to combat terrorist groups operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
The proposal is not yet law. It must still pass the remaining stages of the U.S. legislative process before taking effect.
If eventually enacted, U.S. assistance to Nigeria would remain suspended until the Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has met the stipulated security and accountability conditions.
