February 27, 2026, Washington, D.C. – The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) applauds the introduction of the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026” (H.R. 7457) in the U.S. House of Representatives and urges its swift passage.

RFI President David Trimble commented:

Millions of Nigerian Christians have endured appalling levels of violence and repression for years, as have a substantial number of Muslims, and decisive action is needed now to secure real peace in Africa’s most populous country. As the global religious freedom leader, the United States has a critical role to play, and this new bill, introduced by Congressman Smith and his colleagues, would significantly strengthen America’s capacity to act. RFI praises the scope of the H.R. 7457, both in its authorization of diplomatic, humanitarian, economic, and security tools to confront the range of malicious actors in Nigeria, as well as the rigorous congressional oversight of U.S. efforts that it mandates. 

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, along with Rep. Riley Moore (WV-2), introduced the bill on February 10. Original co-sponsors include: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (FL-21), House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-4), Appropriations Vice Chairman Mario Diaz Balart (FL-26), and Foreign Affairs South and East Asia Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga (MI-4). 

Rep. Smith has chaired 13 hearings focused exclusively on Nigeria over the last 30 years. The bill’s findings, therefore, are shaped by Smith’s experience and expertise acquired over decades. And its prescriptions for U.S. action are similarly well-grounded, accounting for the breadth of state, non-state, regional, and global actors fueling the brutal conditions of persecution in Nigeria.

Importantly, H.R. 7457 acknowledges that:

President Donald Trump acted justly by designating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, in alignment with the recommendations provided by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.)

Moreover, the bill states, “the United States should deliver humanitarian assistance, co-funded by the Government of Nigeria, through trusted civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations, in Nigeria’s middle belt states.” This provision hearkens back to a framework for foreign assistance established in H.R. 390, “Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018” (see Section 6), which Smith also sponsored.

Real relief for Nigeria’s Christians will require various means of external intervention, such as those set forth in H.R. 7457, as well as the cultivation of solutions from within. For instance, RFI and Pepperdine University are working toward convening a faith-based Abrahamic Peacemaking Summit later this year. The Summit would gather top Christian and Muslim leaders in Nigeria to discuss possibilities for creating a peace agreement that would signal to Northern Nigeria, Africa, and the world that leaders of these religious communities stand together against every form of religious persecution and repression and condemn all forms of religiously motivated violence. 

The urgency of Nigeria’s crisis of religious persecution, afflicting millions, demands resolute action on multiple levels – from legislation such as Congressman Smith’s bill to concerted efforts by faith-based and government leaders in Nigeria who jointly seek paths of peace. 

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The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) works to secure religious freedom for everyone, everywhere. RFI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C.

Media Contact: Nathan Berkeley
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