BREAKING: US Congress Sets Date for Hearing on Trump’s Redesignation of Nigeria as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over Alleged Christian Genocide

• The US Congress Subcommittee on Africa will hold a public hearing on November 20 to examine former President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a move that could trigger sanctions and reshape U.S.–Nigeria relations.

The United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa will on Thursday, November 20, 2025, convene a public hearing to review President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.

If the designation is upheld by the U.S. Senate, the move could pave the way for sweeping sanctions against Nigerian officials, restrict certain bilateral engagements, and alter the scope of U.S.–Nigeria cooperation.

The session, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building, will be chaired by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and streamed live for public viewing. Two panels—comprising senior State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders—are expected to testify.

An invitation sent to members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs confirmed the presence of Jonathan Pratt, Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, and Jacob McGee, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. The second panel will feature Nina Shea of the Centre for Religious Freedom, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, and Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic & International Studies.

Lawmakers will examine patterns of religious violence in Nigeria and explore potential U.S. responses, ranging from humanitarian interventions to punitive measures and enhanced diplomatic engagement.

Trump first announced the CPC redesignation on October 31, citing “grave violations of religious liberty” and the mass killing of Christians by extremist groups. In statements that sparked global debate, he warned that the United States could halt aid to Nigeria and consider military action if the alleged atrocities persisted.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and may very well go into that now-disgraced country ‘guns-a-blazing’,” Trump declared on November 1.

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President Bola Tinubu rejected the allegations, describing them as a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s religious landscape. He insisted that the country remains committed to constitutional guarantees of religious liberty and does not encourage persecution.

Meanwhile, rising attacks on Christian settlements—including killings, kidnappings, and the destruction of worship centres—have intensified scrutiny from international bodies and human rights groups. Nigeria, which was first placed on the CPC list in 2020 under Trump, was removed by President Joe Biden after assuming office.

Bishop Anagbe, one of the expected witnesses, earlier detailed widespread violence in Benue State during a March 2025 address to the UK Parliament, accusing armed groups of razing villages and displacing thousands.

The controversy escalated further after U.S. Congressman Riley Moore asserted in a Fox News interview that Christian deaths in Nigeria far exceed those of other groups, claiming a ratio of “five to one.” Responding to Tinubu’s rebuttal, he insisted that persecution in Nigeria is “serious” and cannot be downplayed.

Another U.S. lawmaker, Congressman Bill Huizenga, struck a more cautious tone, telling Arise TV that while a U.S. military strike is unlikely, economic sanctions remain a strong possibility.

As tensions grew, President Tinubu dispatched Dr Abiodun Essiet, his aide on community engagement, to Plateau State to strengthen peace efforts. Her meetings with Christian leaders, Miyetti Allah representatives, and community groups produced renewed commitments to dialogue, including the resolution of a long-standing farmer–herdsmen dispute.

The Senate review of the CPC redesignation remains ongoing, with Senator Ted Cruz championing the measure.