ALLEGED CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE: U.S. Congress’ move threatens food, health, jobs in Nigeria -

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…Education, security too… after $3 bn in aid…Experts: This is a diplomatic red alert

Nigeria could be staring at one of its biggest humanitarian crises in decades after the United States (U.S.) House of Representatives voted to withhold 100 per cent of American assistance to the country over concerns about alleged continued killing of Christians and worsening insecurity.

Although the measure is yet to become law, health experts and development stakeholders warned that if eventually approved by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Donald Trump, the decision could cripple life-saving health programmes, throw thousands of aid workers into unemployment, disrupt humanitarian interventions and reverse decades of gains against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal deaths.

They, however, described the development as a painful reminder that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on foreign donors has become a major national vulnerability.The amendment, sponsored by Congressman Gregory Steube, was adopted by the House during consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 State Department Appropriations Bill.

Steube announced after the vote: “American taxpayers should never bankroll governments that turn a blind eye while Christians are abducted, tortured, and murdered.”

Assistance

The legislation raises an earlier proposal to suspend 50 per cent of assistance to a complete freeze until the U.S. Secretary of State certifies that Nigeria has taken measurable steps to stop the violence and prosecute perpetrators.

For more than two decades, Nigeria has remained one of America’s largest aid beneficiaries.

The United States provided $1.16 billion in assistance in 2022, about $1.02 billion in 2023, and approximately $767 million in 2024, with much of the funding channelled through USAID, PEPFAR and other agencies.

Over the years, Washington has invested more than $6 billion in Nigeria’s HIV response alone through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), supporting treatment for over 1.5 million Nigerians, including more than one million women and children.

According to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria’s 2024 report, American assistance also provided malaria medicines to 2.2 million children, supported 13 million girls with HPV vaccinations, screened 19.8 million Nigerians for tuberculosis, strengthened disease surveillance for cholera and Lassa fever, financed agricultural programmes, education, water and sanitation projects, security reforms and private sector investments.

Diplomatic

Nigeria has consistently ranked among the eight largest recipients of U.S. foreign assistance. According to findings by My News HQ from a partly reported 2024 foreign assistance record, Nigeria received $370 million for health interventions, $310 million in humanitarian assistance, and $35 million for administrative costs. Education programmes attracted $24 million, while agriculture received $7.8 million. An additional $7.4 million was channelled into other areas.

The 2024 report of the U.S. Diplomatic Missions in Nigeria further highlighted the breadth of American support across key sectors of the economy.

In the health sector, the United States supported the vaccination of 13 million girls aged between nine and 14 against the Human Papillomavirus, HPV, as part of efforts to prevent cervical cancer. It also intensified the fight against HIV and tuberculosis by providing services to 1.57 million people living with HIV, screening 19.8 million Nigerians for tuberculosis, and training 55 public health emergency managers to tackle cholera and Lassa fever outbreaks.

Training

Economically, the U.S., through Prosper Africa, facilitated seven deals worth $1.5 billion, boosting investment and job creation. American assistance also enabled students to access scholarships worth $30 million, while more than 3.6 million teaching and learning materials were distributed to schools across the country.

On security, the United States provided $40 million in military assistance to Nigeria in 2024 and sponsored the training of 60 Nigerian military personnel at professional military institutions in America. In collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, it also deployed early warning software to help identify and address emerging conflicts.