The United States House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to convene a joint congressional briefing on Tuesday to address concerns over the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
US Congressman Riley Moore announced on X that the session will be led by House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chair Mario Díaz-Balart.
He will be accompanied by fellow members of the Appropriations Committee, alongside legislators from the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees.
The briefing will also include contributions from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and other experts familiar with the issue.
According to the notice, the purpose of the session is “to spotlight the escalating violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria.”
The statement further noted that “The roundtable will gather critical testimony to inform a comprehensive report – directed by President Trump – on the massacre of Nigerian Christians and the steps Congress can take to support the White House’s efforts to protect vulnerable faith communities worldwide.”
The event comes amid continued diplomatic engagement between the US and Nigeria, following a rise in terrorist attacks and renewed efforts to enhance security cooperation.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu approved the Nigerian delegation for the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group, a move aimed at strengthening collaboration in addressing the nation’s security threats.
The group, established during a recent visit to Washington, DC by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, will be headed on Nigeria’s side by the NSA, supported by senior officials from key government institutions.
Nigeria’s security situation drew heightened international attention after President Donald Trump raised concerns about what he described as Christian genocide in Nigeria, even threatening US military intervention “guns-a-blazing”.
The Federal Government dismissed the claim, insisting it is working to confront the country’s security issues.
President Tinubu also reiterated that protecting Nigerians remains a top priority and affirmed the country’s continued commitment to religious freedom and tolerance.
On November 21, the US House Subcommittee on Africa reviewed Nigeria’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), during which witnesses shared differing perspectives on the ongoing violence in the country.