The United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa will on Thursday, November 20, 2025, hold a public hearing to examine President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged violations of religious freedom.

The hearing, scheduled for 11 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building and to be streamed live, will be chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a long-standing advocate for global religious liberty.

According to an invitation circulated to members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the session will feature two panels. The first will include senior U.S. State Department officials—Jonathan Pratt, Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, and Jacob McGee, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

A second panel will comprise representatives of religious and policy organisations, including Nina Shea of the Centre for Religious Freedom, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese, and Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The review aims to assess the extent of religious persecution in Nigeria and consider potential U.S. responses, which could include sanctions, humanitarian support, or expanded collaboration with Nigerian authorities.

Trump’s Renewed Pressure

President Trump reignited tensions on October 31, 2025, when he restored Nigeria to the CPC list, a designation that allows punitive measures against foreign officials accused of religious repression. In a statement the following day, he warned that Christians in Nigeria faced an “existential threat,” and threatened to suspend all U.S. assistance to Nigeria if the killings continued. He also suggested possible military action, directing the “Department of War” to prepare for intervention.

Tinubu Rejects Allegations

President Bola Tinubu dismissed Trump’s claims, saying they do not reflect the realities of religious freedom in Nigeria. In a statement posted on X, Tinubu insisted that Nigeria upholds constitutional protections for all faiths and remains committed to religious tolerance.

Growing Scrutiny in Washington

Nigeria’s CPC redesignation has revived international attention on years of violent attacks in parts of the country, including killings, mass abductions, and the destruction of churches in northern and central regions. A companion bill backing the designation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Ted Cruz.

One of the scheduled witnesses, Bishop Anagbe, has regularly highlighted the plight of Christian communities in Benue State, telling UK lawmakers in March 2025 that many families had fled to IDP camps following repeated assaults by extremists and armed groups.

Republican Lawmakers Apply Pressure

Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV), in a recent Fox News interview, said congressional committees had already begun evaluating the situation, working with the State Department and the White House. He argued that Christians in Nigeria face severe persecution and criticised Tinubu’s rejection of the allegations. Moore also claimed that preliminary congressional findings indicate Christians are being killed at a rate higher than Muslims.

He added that the CPC designation provides the U.S. with a range of options—including sanctions, freezing funds, and even potential military action—if conditions do not improve.