U.S. House Passes N65.4 trillion Foreign Aid Bill, Ties Half of Nigeria Assistance to Protection of Christians
Our Correspondent
The United States House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security and State Department Appropriations Bill, which conditions 50 percent of U.S. assistance to Nigeria on measurable steps by the Nigerian government to protect Christians from violence.
The $47.32 billion bill, approved as part of the House appropriations process, also cuts overall spending by $2.69 billion from FY2026 levels.
Congressman Riley M. Moore, R-W.Va., who helped secure the Nigeria provisions, said the legislation advances an “America First” foreign policy and sends “a clear message that the United States will continue to stand with persecuted Christians across the globe, especially in Nigeria.”
“Christians in Nigeria continue to endure horrific violence, murder, and persecution while a majority of the world turns a blind eye to their suffering,” Moore said in a statement.
He cited ongoing attacks and displacement, particularly in Middle Belt communities.
The bill and accompanying committee report, negotiated by Moore and NSRP Chairman Mario Diaz-Balart, include several measures focused on Nigeria.
Other measures focusing on Nigeria include that 50 percent of U.S. assistance to Nigeria is contingent on Nigeria’s actions to protect Christians against religiously motivated violence, address threats posed by Fulani terrorists, and facilitate the return of internally displaced people to ancestral lands.
It also directs the State Department to report to Congress and the President on efforts needed to end targeted violence against Christians in Nigeria.
On security, it provides funding for police training and increased accountability in Nigeria.
Another measure focusing on Nigeria dedicates funding to combat ritualized murder and organ trafficking in Africa, and expands efforts to prevent atrocities and human trafficking.
Moore said the bill also reaffirms recommendations he made to President Trump on Nigeria.
Broader details show that the FY2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Act prioritizes countering threats from China, Iran, the Taliban, and transnational criminal organizations, according to the bill summary.
It eliminates funding for programs tied to climate mandates, DEI initiatives, and “radical gender ideology” from the Biden administration.
The bill also restricts federal funds from being used for censorship activities targeting American citizens.
The legislation maintains longstanding pro-life provisions including the Helms, Kemp-Kasten, Siljander, Tiahrt, and Hyde-Lantos amendments.
The bill now advances to the next stage of the House appropriations process.
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