The United States is weighing possible sanctions, including visa bans, against Nigerians found responsible for religious persecution.
This development was disclosed by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who said the action is in response to reports of violence targeted at Christians in Nigeria.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the atrocities and violence against Christians in Nigeria and around the world,” Rubio posted on his X handle on Wednesday.
“The @StateDept will restrict U.S. visas for those who knowingly direct, authorize, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom. This visa policy applies to Nigeria and other governments or individuals that persecute people for their religious beliefs.”
According to a policy outlined under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the State Department “will allow the State Department to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom and, where appropriate, their immediate family members”.
Rubio noted that President Donald Trump has maintained that “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries.”
“This policy will apply to Nigeria and any other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom,” Rubio added in a statement.
The development marks the latest US response amid escalating insecurity in Nigeria. On Tuesday, the US Congress convened a briefing to examine Trump’s October directive designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), the second time he has issued such a classification—the first being in 2020.
Following Trump’s announcement, he also threatened military intervention in Nigeria over what he described as the widespread killing of Christians.
In November, the US House of Representatives held its initial briefing on the designation, shortly after Trump’s directive. Lawmakers condemned Nigeria’s rising insecurity and urged the Nigerian government to take stronger action.
In the wake of these events, Nigerian authorities have announced several measures, including declaring a national security emergency and directing the recruitment of additional security personnel.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has rejected claims that Christians are being specifically targeted but reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the country.
Most recently, Tinubu appointed Nigeria’s delegation to the US–Nigeria Joint Working Group, a move aligned with Washington’s increasing concerns about security across Africa’s most populous nation.