Nigeria redesignated Country of Particular Concern
President Donald Trump has announced that Nigeria is being redesignated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act due to alleged large-scale attacks on Christians in the country. He asserted that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.”
The designation had been in effect previously under Trump’s first term but was removed in 2021 by the Joe Biden administration. It signals that the U.S. may impose sanctions or restrict non-humanitarian aid to Nigeria if the country is deemed to be tolerating or complicit in severe violations of religious freedom.
The move reflects growing pressure from several U.S. lawmakers and religious freedom groups who argue that attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions amount to systemic persecution. They cite thousands of deaths, large numbers of churches destroyed, and an inadequate government response.
However, the Nigerian government strongly rejects the characterization of the violence as religious persecution targeted exclusively at Christians. Officials say the country’s insecurity is driven by terrorism, communal conflict and criminality affecting both Christians and Muslims. They also view the push for the CPC redesignation as politically motivated and harmful to Nigeria’s image.
The implications of the CPC status include the possibility of U.S. travel restrictions on Nigerian officials, suspension of certain U.S. assistance or arms sales, and formal diplomatic pressure for Nigeria to show concrete action on protecting religious minorities. The exact response by the U.S. has not yet been clarified in full.
