LunagisthubAPC to Testify Before US Congress on Nigeria’s Security Challenges
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United States has requested to testify before the US House Subcommittee on Africa regarding Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to alleged religious persecution ¹. The APC’s US chapter, led by Prof. Tai Balofin, aims to provide firsthand intelligence and verifiable data on Nigeria’s security landscape, highlighting the complexity of the nation’s insecurity challenges
The APC’s planned testimony will also highlight notable security gains under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including:
– Progress in degrading terrorist networks
– Improvements in community-based early-warning systems
– Initiatives promoting interfaith harmony
– Recent reductions in attacks across several hotspots, documented by Nigerian authorities and independent international monitors
The APC USA plans to present proposals for stronger US-Nigeria cooperation on security, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian support. This collaboration is seen as vital for protecting all religious groups without undermining diplomatic relations
The development comes amid renewed US allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria, which Nigeria has repeatedly denied. Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, condemned the US for excluding Nigeria from a UN event on alleged killings of Nigerians from a particular faith group, citing the importance of representation and inclusive engagement .
The CPC designation, if ratified by the Senate, would allow the US to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials found complicit in religious persecution and limit certain forms of bilateral assistance. This move signals to the international community that religious freedom in Nigeria remains under serious threat
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