By Jeremy Fregene
The United States House Appropriations Committee has proposed fresh conditions that could restrict financial assistance to Nigeria, amid sharp criticism from a US lawmaker who accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of focusing on lobbying efforts in Washington rather than confronting insecurity at home.
The proposed legislation, which covers US funding for national security, the State Department, and related programmes for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, introduces stringent benchmarks Nigeria must meet to access allocated funds.
Central to the bill is a provision that withholds 50 percent of funds designated for Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the government is taking “effective steps” to curb violence, prosecute perpetrators, and provide support for victims.
The conditions also require Nigerian authorities to prioritise internally displaced persons, facilitate the safe return of affected communities, and commit adequate resources to restoring areas ravaged by attacks.
Although the exact allocation to Nigeria was not disclosed, the wider funding framework includes less than 15 percent of $6.89 billion for national security programmes in Africa, $205 million for democracy initiatives, $5 billion for humanitarian assistance, and $870 million for anti-terrorism efforts.
The bill specifies that funds directed at Nigeria should support religious freedom and bolster investigations and prosecutions tied to violence involving militias, jihadist groups, and criminal networks.
However, the debate took a sharper political turn as Riley Moore openly criticised the Tinubu administration’s priorities.
In a series of posts on X, Moore alleged that the Nigerian government is “spending millions lobbying Congress” while failing to adequately address what he described as ongoing violence, particularly against vulnerable communities.
He insisted that the United States would not ignore the situation, signalling growing impatience among some American lawmakers over Nigeria’s handling of its security challenges.
The bill also mandates the US Secretary of State to present a detailed plan to Congress on how funds allocated to Nigeria would be utilised, in line with the outlined conditions.
If passed, the measure could tighten oversight on US-Nigeria relations and increase pressure on Abuja to demonstrate measurable progress in tackling insecurity, even as the Tinubu administration continues to seek international support for its reform and stabilisation agenda.