A U.S. House subcommittee has intensified its review of Nigeria’s human-rights trajectory, using a high-profile hearing on 20 November to assess whether the country’s redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) warrants tougher American pressure.
The session — convened by the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa — examined the Trump administration’s decision to restore the CPC label to Nigeria and what that means for U.S. policy. Testimony came from senior State Department officials Jonathan Pratt and Jacob McGee, alongside expert witnesses Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi Diocese, and Oge Onubogu of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Lawmakers pressed the administration on whether Abuja has demonstrated meaningful responsibility in addressing persistent attacks on religious communities. Rep. Brad Bard questioned both the adequacy of Nigerian government action and the extent to which the U.S. should condition cooperation on improved accountability.
Jacob McGee, a deputy assistant secretary overseeing democracy and labor issues, acknowledged that Washington maintains robust, high-level engagement with Nigerian officials. Still, he noted that cooperation has not eliminated impunity. Continued assaults — particularly in areas where perpetrators are rarely prosecuted — underscore “the need for more than rhetoric,” he said.
The discussion also touched on the sensitive issue of waivers, a tool that can soften the punitive implications of the CPC designation. Bard asked whether the current administration would be more reluctant than its predecessor to issue waivers and whether withholding them could serve as leverage to restrain religious persecution.
McGee responded that all policy instruments remain on the table, including waivers when they are necessary to preserve critical security or strategic programs. Yet he emphasized that the broader objective is to draw sustained attention to the enforcement of Sharia-based statutes in a dozen northern states — laws that in some cases still include harsh penalties, even capital punishment.
Officials reiterated that dialogues with Nigeria span multiple levels of government. The United States, they said, is urging authorities to move beyond commitments and adopt concrete measures that advance religious freedom and curb extremist violence.
Under the CPC framework, Washington can impose sanctions, restrict certain categories of assistance, or take other targeted actions against individuals or institutions implicated in abuses. While limited waivers may still be considered, McGee stressed that the overarching priority is ensuring Nigeria undertakes meaningful reforms and strengthens protections for all religious communities.