By Paul Joseph
A United States lawmaker, Riley M. Moore, has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of prioritizing lobbying efforts in Washington while allegedly failing to address violence against Christians in Nigeria.
Moore made the allegation in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), where he claimed that the Nigerian government was spending “millions lobbying Congress” instead of confronting what he described as ongoing persecution of Christians across parts of the country.
The congressman also revealed that the U.S. House Appropriations Committee had passed a State Department funding bill aimed at tackling insecurity and religious violence in Nigeria.
According to him, the proposed legislation introduces stricter conditions for U.S. assistance, with a focus on accountability, religious freedom, and security reforms.
He explained that the bill prioritizes measures such as preventing atrocities, prosecuting armed groups including Fulani ethnic militias and other criminal networks and strengthening humanitarian support systems.
It also calls for improved accountability among Nigerian security forces and increased support for faith-based organizations operating in conflict-affected areas.
Moore further disclosed that he worked alongside Mario Diaz-Balart to push for restrictions on U.S. security assistance to Nigeria unless certain benchmarks are met.
These include demonstrable progress in addressing violence, holding perpetrators accountable, and supporting internally displaced persons to return to their communities.
In addition, the legislation mandates the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to assess Nigeria’s compliance with these conditions.
It also places the country under closer congressional oversight, requiring detailed reporting on how allocated funds are spent.
The bill reportedly includes funding targeted at addressing insecurity in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, with provisions aimed at strengthening local security structures, including support for state-level policing initiatives.
Moore argued that the Tinubu administration has not met expectations tied to previous U.S. security assistance, urging American authorities to take this into account when administering future funding.
He added that efforts to address violence against Christians in Nigeria have received bipartisan backing in the U.S. Congress, stressing that the issue remains a priority for both Republicans and Democrats.
However, his remarks have sparked mixed reactions online, with some critics accusing him of selective concern and questioning why similar attention is not directed toward crises in other countries facing comparable violence.
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