The United States (U.S.) Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, has concluded his visit to Nigeria with commendation for Nigeria’s increased efforts under the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group (JWG) to address the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation.

Still on the U.S.-Nigeria relations, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a fiscal year spending bill with provisions to cut foreign assistance to Nigeria over alleged targeted violence against Christians and other vulnerable communities.

The National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act for the 2027 fiscal year was passed by the House on Wednesday in a 217-209 vote.

Nevertheless, it still needs approval by the Senate and assent by President Trump to become law.

The bill contains a provision to withhold all foreign assistance to Nigeria until the U.S. can certify that the federal government is taking effective steps to protect Christians from violence.

In that regard, the bill demands “holding foreign governments and bad actors accountable for persecuting people of faith,” with the measure including “restricting assistance to Nigeria until measurable actions are taken to protect Christian communities suffering from religious violence.”

It also seeks to provide “support for religious freedom programmes abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organisations delivering foreign aid.”

The provision was championed by Riley Moore and a host of other Republican lawmakers, including Florida’s Jeff Steube.

Meanwhile, prominent businessman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tein Jack-Rich, has called for a stronger engagement between Nigeria, Africa and the United States (U.S.), saying that deeper ties with American policymakers and investors are critical to unlocking the continent’s vast economic potential.

Jack-Rich, who is the president of Belemaoil Group, spoke after receiving an award at the Celebrate America 250 event in Washington D.C., where he joined top U.S. political leaders, business executives and international dignitaries.

He described the recognition as an opportunity to advance Nigeria’s interests and strengthen Africa’s voice in global policy and investment discussions.

A statement yesterday by the U.S. Mission to Nigeria noted that Garcia has also pressed the Nigerian Government to do more to protect Christians from attacks and ensure that greater efforts and resources are committed towards the safe return of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their homes.

Garcia, who arrived in Nigeria last weekend as part of an official diplomatic tour across West Africa, met with senior Nigerian government officials to advance the U.S.-Nigeria strategic partnership in security cooperation, the protection of Christian communities, justice sector reform, digital transformation, commercial diplomacy, and regional stability.

He held meetings with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye; Nigerian Air Force Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Francis Edosa; Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijan, as well as the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

He also met with senior executives from leading U.S. energy and technology companies to discuss the business climate and investment opportunities. Stating that he looks forward to the next meeting of the JWG in Washington DC this August to assess progress made on these lines of effort, Garcia disclosed that “discussions with the Attorney-General addressed Islamic terrorism prosecutions, criminal accountability and religious freedom.

“With Minister Tijani, talks centred on opportunities for U.S. investment and expanded U.S. private sector engagement in Nigeria’s growing economy.”

Nigeria was first designated a CPC for religious freedom by the U.S. State Department on December 7, 2020. Although the designation was lifted in November 2021, it was reinstated on October 31, 2025.

Also announcing on his official X handle the passage of the bill that was introduced to the House in April, Steube said: “American taxpayers should NEVER bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered.”

Moore, who previously accused the Nigerian Government of Christian genocide, had pushed for language in the FY2027 NSRP Appropriations Act to restrict assistance to Nigeria because “not enough has been done against Fulani Islamist terrorists in the Middle Belt.”

The Republican lawmaker told the House that the provision offered assistance to the government, conditioned on improvement in the protection of the Christian population.

He described this as part of the Donald Trump administration’s strategy to assist Nigeria in defending Christians, “while holding the President Tinubu government accountable if they fail.”

However, while the bill had initially restricted the provision of 50 per cent of U.S. assistance, Stuebe proposed completely withholding foreign assistance to the country.

He proposed an amendment that raised withholding of assistance from 50 to 100 per cent, saying that withholding only 50 per cent of the funds appeared to reward the Nigerian Government despite its failure to protect citizens.

This comes as some Nigerian nationals and organisations have also been accused and sanctioned for terrorism financing, including a Lagos-based bureau de change operator, Mukhtar Adamu, who is said to have facilitated financial transactions for the West African faction of ISIS through his BDC firms.

In the meantime, Jack-Rich noted that meaningful engagement with policymakers and investors is essential for attracting trade, investment and development opportunities to Nigeria and the wider African continent.

He said direct interaction with influential decision-makers in Washington enables Africa to shape its own narrative, attract international confidence and showcase its economic potential.

He noted that discussions at the event highlighted Nigeria’s strategic role in regional security and economic development, while also drawing attention to Africa’s vast natural resources and youthful population.

Speaking on growing geopolitical competition on the continent, he said African countries naturally align with partners that provide opportunities for growth and development, adding that “a partnership with the U.S. is more sustainable because its footprints can outlive generations.”