- The US House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to suspend 100 percent of certain financial assistance to Nigeria over worsening insecurity.
- If signed into law, the aid will remain frozen until the Nigerian government satisfies US conditions on improving security, protecting citizens, and holding perpetrators of violence accountable.
The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to withhold 100 percent of certain US financial assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government demonstrates concrete progress in tackling insecurity and protecting its citizens.
The amendment, sponsored by Representative Gregory Steube, was adopted through a voice vote on Wednesday. It raises the proposed withholding of US assistance from the initial 50 percent to a full 100 percent, citing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
According to the proposal, the affected funds will remain blocked until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken effective steps to prevent violence, protect vulnerable communities, and ensure those responsible for attacks are held accountable.
Speaking in support of the amendment, Steube argued that withholding only half of the assistance would still reward a government he believes has failed in its primary duty of safeguarding its people.
“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria, from 50 percent to 100 percent, while keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country.”
He added that Nigeria has continued to experience widespread violence, accusing the government of failing to adequately address the crisis.
The amendment forms part of broader legislative efforts in the United States aimed at increasing pressure on Nigeria to strengthen security, protect its citizens, and respond more effectively to the growing wave of violence across the country.
If the legislation is eventually signed into law, the Federal Government will have to meet the outlined security benchmarks before the affected US financial assistance can be restored.
