U.S. Lawmakers outline tough measures, expanded aid in response to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity

U.S. lawmakers are calling for a sweeping set of measures aimed at addressing the worsening humanitarian and security crisis in Nigeria, following a joint congressional briefing focused on religious persecution, mass displacement, and escalating violence across several regions of the country.

At the hearing, members of Congress pushed for both stronger U.S. action and greater accountability from the Nigerian government, outlining a mix of diplomatic pressure, targeted sanctions, aid reforms, and expanded humanitarian support.

Call for Disarmament, Justice, and Safe Return of Displaced Families

Representative Brian Mast urged the Nigerian government to take decisive steps to disarm armed groups, prosecute perpetrators of violence, and ensure justice for affected communities. He stressed that thousands of families forced from their homes by extremist and militia attacks still cannot return safely.
“The Nigerian government must act to make sure displaced families can go home without fear,” Mast said, emphasizing that security must be restored at the community level.

Lawmakers argued that without concrete action to rein in militias and insurgents, Nigeria risks sliding further into instability.

Foreign Aid May Be Tied to Human-Rights Benchmarks

Several members of Congress signaled that the U.S. may move toward conditioning foreign aid to Nigeria on measurable progress in protecting vulnerable populations. According to the proposals discussed, future U.S. assistance could depend on Nigeria demonstrating:

• Effective protection for at-risk religious and ethnic communities
• Visible prosecution of perpetrators of mass killings
• Improvements in freedom of religion and human-rights safeguards

Such conditionality, lawmakers said, would pressure Nigerian authorities to take more aggressive steps toward accountability.

Targeted Sanctions on Rights Violators

In addition to modifying aid policies, some lawmakers proposed imposing targeted sanctions, including:

• Visa bans
• Asset freezes

These measures would apply to individuals or entities found responsible for human-rights abuses, mass killings, or participation in extremist violence. Supporters of the proposal argued that sanctions are necessary to deter further abuses and signal U.S. intolerance of impunity.

Expanded U.S.–Nigeria Security and Humanitarian Cooperation

Beyond punitive measures, lawmakers also advocated for ramping up humanitarian and security assistance — particularly through partnerships with on-the-ground organizations working with internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Proposed areas of cooperation include:

• Greater U.S. support for faith-based and civil-society organizations assisting victims of attacks
• Enhanced humanitarian aid for displaced families in affected states
• Strengthened security collaboration to help Nigeria counter extremist groups and restore stability in affected regions

Members emphasized that any increased U.S. involvement would be aimed at both alleviating the humanitarian crisis and rebuilding local resilience.

Growing Bipartisan Pressure on Nigeria

The latest proposals reflect a growing bipartisan push in Washington to address violence that U.S. officials say increasingly targets religious minorities and civilian populations. Lawmakers warned that without urgent reforms, the crisis could worsen, with far-reaching consequences for regional stability.

The recommendations are expected to influence upcoming deliberations on U.S. policy toward Nigeria, including aid packages, sanctions decisions, and diplomatic engagement in 2026.