![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
A bipartisan statement from the US House Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees today called for the immediate repeal of sharia-based legal codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws in Nigeria, which it accused of being systematically used to target, silence, and persecute Christians.
The committees, led by Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole and Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast, demanded that President Trump re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under U.S. religious freedom law—the highest level of official condemnation—and impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for violence against Christian communities.
The joint statement documented decades of “daily, systematic, and unpunished massacres” of Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern states, primarily by Fulani militias and terrorist groups. It described thousands of deaths, the destruction of churches, schools, and villages, and widespread displacement—often targeting pastors, priests, women, children, and the elderly.
The committees explicitly condemned the weaponization of sharia codes and blasphemy laws to criminalize Christian expression, suppress dissent, and enable impunity. They labeled these legal frameworks as tools of persecution that violate international human rights standards and International Humanitarian Law.
Key recommendations included:
-
Immediate repeal of sharia-based codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws used to target Christians.
-
Re-designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe, ongoing religious freedom violations.
-
Targeted sanctions on individuals and entities involved in violence against Christians.
-
Visa restrictions on perpetrators and officials complicit in attacks or religious-freedom violations.
-
Bilateral security agreement between the United States and Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities, eliminate jihadist activity, and end support for proxy violence.
-
Co-funding of humanitarian assistance through faith-based organizations to reach internally displaced Christians in the Middle Belt.
-
Enhanced security cooperation, including provision of U.S. military equipment to replace Russian systems, technical training, and support for counter-terrorism operations.
-
Blocking exports of beef and related products from violence-linked areas to countries including Ivory Coast and Senegal.
-
A new National Intelligence Estimate classifying Fulani militia groups in Nigeria as terrorist entities.
-
Increased diplomatic staffing and support for U.S. posts in Nigeria to advance these priorities.
The committees warned that the international community’s persistent silence and inaction carry heavy moral and political responsibility, and that history will demand accountability. They stressed that Nigeria remains a strategic partner, but partnership must include verifiable protection of religious minorities.
The statement committed the committees to continued oversight through hearings and further reporting to ensure implementation and accountability.
