The United States is considering imposing sanctions and engaging the Pentagon in counterterrorism efforts to pressure Nigeria to better protect its Christian communities and uphold religious freedom.
This move follows President Donald Trump’s threat of military action over the treatment of Christians in the country.
“The Trump administration is developing a plan to incentivize and compel the Nigerian government to better protect Christian communities and improve religious freedom,” Jonathan Pratt, the senior official leading the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday.
The plan may involve U.S. State and Treasury engagement on sanctions, as well as possible Department of War engagement on counterterrorism and other efforts to protect religious communities.
Pratt noted that Washington is primarily looking at security provided to the Nigerian government, including how it deploys assets and shares information and intelligence.
Nigeria was added back to the U.S. list of “Countries of Particular Concern” in October for alleged violations of religious freedom.
Trump has also threatened to stop all aid to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer, if it fails to crack down on Christian killings.
A high-level Nigerian delegation, including the national security adviser, defense chief, and police head, has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. officials.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine are set to meet with Nigeria’s national security adviser.
Pratt noted that the U.S. does not believe the Nigerian government has been infiltrated by jihadists, but more needs to be done to protect vulnerable communities.
Jacob McGee, the State Department’s deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, said Nigeria’s designation as a country of particular concern has captured the government’s attention, but “a lot more needs to be done.”
“We are planning engagement on the ground, both through our embassies there and other trips, to make sure Nigerians hear our very important message that they have to do better,” McGee added.
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