The United States government has reportedly considered to weigh sanctions against at least 12 Nigerian governors and several senior officials following their alleged inclusion on a new watchlist compiled by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), also known as the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list.
According to diplomatic sources, Washington is currently reviewing recommendations from USCIRF to impose visa bans, asset freezes, and other punitive measures on Nigerian officials accused of enabling or ignoring human rights violations and religious persecution.
Those named are said to include governors from northern and central Nigeria, regions often plagued by ethnic and religiously motivated violence.
This development followed U.S. President, Donald Trump’s earlier classification of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”, citing persistent attacks on Christian communities and the Nigerian government’s alleged failure to respond effectively.
Trump had previously warned that the U.S. could suspend foreign aid or take direct action if the federal government did not act decisively to stop the violence.
American officials reportedly attributed the renewed focus to continued attacks on churches, displacement of rural populations, and alleged misconduct by Nigerian security forces in managing religious conflicts. If approved, the sanctions could be rolled out in phases, potentially extending to members of the security establishment accused of covering up such incidents.
Reacting to the report, the federal government dismissed the allegations as biased and politically motivated.
Presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala stated that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees equal rights for all citizens, warning against what he described as “external attempts to misrepresent Nigeria’s complex security challenges as religious persecution.”
Bwala added that the government would issue an official response once the U.S. finalizes its positionon the proposed sanctions.
