The United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa will on Thursday, November 20, 2025, begin an investigation into President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged widespread killings of Christians.
According to an invitation issued to members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the hearing will take place at 11:00 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., and will also be streamed via live webcast. The session will be chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).
Two panels are expected to testify before the committee, consisting of senior U.S. State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders. Witnesses include Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, Jonathan Pratt; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Jacob McGee; Director of the Center for Religious Freedom, Nina Shea; Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese; and Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic & International Studies.
Trump’s Redesignation and Threats
Nigeria was first designated a CPC by Trump in 2020 before being removed from the list by President Joe Biden. But on October 31, 2025, Trump again placed Nigeria on the CPC list, citing alleged severe violations of religious freedom and what he described as an existential threat to Christians.
He claimed thousands of Christians were being killed by radical Islamist groups and threatened military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to address the situation. The U.S. President also warned he would halt all aid to Nigeria, adding that any intervention would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Congressional Review
The hearing will examine the extent of religious persecution in Nigeria and consider policy actions such as targeted sanctions, humanitarian support, and enhanced cooperation with Nigerian authorities to curb violence. A related bill is already before the U.S. Senate, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz.
Tinubu Rejects ‘Genocide’ Label
President Bola Tinubu, reacting via his official X handle, dismissed Trump’s assertions, insisting that the characterisation does not reflect Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said. “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”
Pope Leo XIV Raises Alarm
Pope Leo XIV also expressed concern over attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and other countries. In a message shared on his verified account, the Pope lamented ongoing persecution and highlighted Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and Bangladesh as hotspots where worship centres face repeated assaults.
He called for an end to violence and prayed for victims, including families affected by recent massacres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kivu region.
Tinubu Sends Emissary to Plateau
In response to ongoing tensions, President Tinubu dispatched Dr. Abiodun Essiet, his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (North Central), to Plateau State to promote peace and rebuild inter-communal trust.
Essiet met with Christian leaders, Fulani Miyetti Allah representatives, Irigwe community leaders, and youth groups. According to the presidency, the move is part of efforts to strengthen community-based peace structures and foster long-term stability in the region.
