America agency calls for Nigeria’s designation as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over religious violence

The United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has suggested to the American government to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to persistent religious violence, coupled with government’s failure to protect religious minorities.

Penpushing reports that United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its 2025 annual report released on Tuesday, condemned Nigerian authorities for failing to prosecute perpetrators of religious violence.

The commission warned that this inaction fuels reprisals, deepens sectarian tensions, and weakens religious freedom, however, if Nigeria is officially designated as a Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the American International Religious Freedom Act, it could face diplomatic and economic consequences.

Penpushing further reports that these including sanctions and restrictions on United State of America (USA foreign aid, however, Nigeria was designated as such before, with the American government accusing it and other countries in the category of violating religious freedom, and ignoring the recommendation from the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The 2025 annual report of the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommending Nigeria’s redesignation came on the heels of a call earlier this month of the America House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa for Nigeria to be re-tagged a Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) country.

Penpushing also reports that the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Chris Smith, urged President Donald Trump to impose harsh sanctions on Nigeria over the killing of Christians, and at the hearing of the subcommittee, Smith condemned the former Secretary of State, Blinken, for reversing Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) status in 2021.

“One Nigerian Bishop challenged Blinken and said Christian persecution is more intense than ever. That was Bishop Mamza. And Genocide Watch has called Nigeria a killing field of defenceless Christians’, he said.

Penpushing reports that Smith stated that the Nigerian government has failed to tackle religiously motivated persecution of Christians despite religious freedom being enshrined as an essential human right in its Constitution.”

‘The Nigerian legal framework supports pluralism at both federal and state levels, but glaring contradictions exist, especially with laws that criminalise blasphemy – some even carrying the death penalty’.

Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that former President Muhammed Buhari while in office, confirmed that during his visit to the America in 2018, he was confronted by President Donald Trump, during first term in office, with the allegation of killing of Christians.

The Nigerian government, earlier this month through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denied allegations of targeted killings of Christians in the country, explaining that reports promoting the allegations were misleading and intended to pressure the United States of America (USA) into designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC)

Penpushing also reports that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described any attempt to portray these attacks as religious persecution as inaccurate and misleading, but acknowledged the security challenges confronting the nation

“While the federal government acknowledges the security challenges confronting the nation, it is imperative to clarify that these negative activities are not driven by religious bias, nor targeted against any particular religious group,” the statement read in part.

Penpushing reports that the agency pointed out that the Nigerian government has deployed security forces, enhanced intelligence gathering, and strengthened community engagement in an effort to tackle the crisis.

‘To bring an end to such security challenges, both the Federal and State authorities have embarked on kinetic and non-kinetic methods and expedited the implementation of the national livestock plan’.

‘To this end, a Ministry of Livestock Development has been established, while a Special Adviser and Coordinator of Livestock Reforms has been appointed to find sustainable solutions to pastoral farming, with a view to ending contestations over land between farmers and pastoral herders,” the agency added.

Penpushing further reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to verify information carefully before drawing conclusions that might escalate tensions within Nigeria.

The United States of America (USA) government in November 2021, removed Nigeria from the list, but it did not take long when the push to redesignate the country as a Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) country

Penpushing also reports that, five American senators in July 2022 asked the then-Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern country over the deteriorating state of religious freedom in the country.

“Given the abysmal state of religious freedom in Nigeria, it is incumbent upon you to reverse last year’s decision and redesignate the country as a CPC. The moment demands that you do so without delay,” the senators said in a 29 June 2022 memo.

Penpushing reports that the Republican senators informed Blinken that religious violence and intolerance directed toward Nigerian Christians has worsened in recent years, hence their request.

The Senators pointed out that apart from attacks on Nigerian Christians, the Nigerian authorities also restrict and crack down on religious minorities and detain individuals indefinitely on blasphemy-related charges.

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