The United States House of Representatives has passed an amendment seeking to withhold 100 percent of all financial aid destined for Nigeria. This decisive legislative move, which was adopted via a voice vote, is aimed at pressuring the Nigerian federal government to take more robust and concrete steps toward curbing religious violence, specifically the targeted abduction, torture, and killings of Christian communities.

The new measure, sponsored by Republican Congressman Gregory Steube, was incorporated into the fiscal 2027 State Department spending bill, which subsequently passed the wider House of Representatives in a tight 217–209 vote along party lines. Initially, the underlying spending bill had proposed a partial restriction, aiming to withhold 50 percent of the appropriated funds until the US Secretary of State could certify that Nigeria had shown effective progress in holding perpetrators of violence accountable.

However, Representative Steube argued that withholding only half of the funds was akin to rewarding a corrupt government that fails in its basic obligation of protecting its citizens. By successfully raising the threshold to 100 percent, the amendment completely freezes all financial assistance unless Nigeria satisfies the strict certification conditions regarding religious freedom and human rights.

While addressing the House floor, Steube defended the stricter terms by tying the decision to the rising US national debt, which is approaching $40 trillion, arguing that American taxpayers should not bankroll foreign governments that turn a blind eye to atrocities.

Despite the successful passage in the House, the amendment will not immediately alter current US funding to Nigeria, as it must still be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the US President.

Nevertheless, this development signals a massive, hardening shift in Washington’s foreign policy toward Abuja, building upon President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations.