United States lawmakers have introduced a new bill aimed at confronting religious persecution in Nigeria and pressing the government to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities, particularly Christians.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 7457), was announced on Tuesday in a press release on US lawmaker Riley Moore’s official website.
The bill is sponsored by Moore (R-West Virginia), the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), and several senior congressional figures.
Cosponsors include House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-Florida), Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security and Related Programs Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida), and Foreign Affairs South and East Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan).
If passed, the bill would mandate the US Secretary of State to submit a detailed report to Congress on efforts to address religious violence and mass atrocities in Nigeria, including the treatment of internally displaced persons, enforcement of blasphemy laws and steps taken to prosecute perpetrators.
Announcing the bill, Rep. Moore said he had witnessed the situation in Nigeria personally.
“For years, Christians in Nigeria have faced unspeakable violence, churches burned, villages destroyed, families slaughtered, while the global community looked away,” he said.
“As part of the investigation President Trump asked me to lead, I visited Nigeria and witnessed firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face and saw the security challenges Nigeria faces.”
Moore added that the legislation was intended to send a clear message.
“That is why I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Representative Chris Smith. This legislation makes clear that the United States stands with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ and seeks to help Nigeria address its many challenges,” he said.
He also acknowledged cooperation with Abuja, saying, “I applaud the Nigerian government for working in coordination and cooperation with the Trump Administration to address the security challenges throughout the country. I stand ready to continue working to deepen and strengthen our relationship with Nigeria, as we work to save Christian lives.”
Rep. Smith, who has chaired 13 congressional hearings on religious persecution in Nigeria, said denial by Nigerian authorities had worsened the crisis.
“The Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders has only enabled the religious-based violence in the country to fester, with Christian deaths and church attacks reaching unprecedented numbers,” Smith said.
Smith stressed that Washington must act decisively.
According to him, “Now that President Trump has rightly redesignated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ the United States has a responsibility to do its due diligence in ensuring that the Nigerian government is taking the proper steps to address and punish the systemic violence against Christians and non-radical Muslims by Islamist extremists.”
He warned that failure to act would embolden attackers.
“Inaction on the part of both the Nigerian and U.S. governments only emboldens these radical Islamist thugs to inflict even more misery, suffering, and death,” Smith said.
He added that the US must “remain steadfast in its mission to promote and protect religious freedoms throughout the globe.”
Backing the proposal, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast said, “The free world cannot stand by as Christians face mass murders, kidnappings and brutal assaults at the hands of terrorist thugs and armed militias in Nigeria.”
He added that, “The Nigerian government must do their part to eliminate the scourge of religious persecution plaguing the country.”
Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole described the measure as both moral and strategic.
“Defending religious liberty in Nigeria and worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest,” Cole said. “The Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 makes it clear: religious persecution will not be tolerated.”
The legislative move follows renewed congressional attention on Nigeria after the United States redesignated the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” in November 2025 over allegations of severe violations of religious freedom. The designation allows Washington to consider diplomatic and economic measures.
Moore later visited Nigeria, where he met senior government officials and travelled to areas affected by insecurity.
According to the release, discussions focused on the alleged persecution of Christians, broader terrorist threats and opportunities for closer cooperation between both countries.
The bill underscores growing pressure on Nigeria to demonstrate concrete action in protecting religious freedom and tackling violence linked to extremist groups. The proposal will now proceed through the US legislative process for debate and consideration.
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