The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent bipartisan federal advisory body, has reaffirmed its long-standing recommendation that Nigeria be designated and redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
In its 2026 Annual Report, released earlier this month, USCIRF explicitly recommended that the U.S. Department of State redesignate Nigeria as a CPC, alongside 12 other nations, based on religious freedom conditions observed in 2025.
This builds on USCIRF's consistent advocacy since 2009, including repeated calls in its 2025 reports and hearings, for Nigeria to be placed on the CPC list due to the government's failure to adequately address widespread religious violence.
USCIRF welcomed President Donald J. Trump's 2025 designation of Nigeria as a CPC, describing it as "an important step to advance religious freedom." The Commission applauded the action for enabling the U.S. government to develop robust plans with Nigerian authorities to protect people of faith, hold perpetrators accountable, and rescue hostages held due to their beliefs.
Key concerns cited by USCIRF include:
Persistent violence by non-state actors, such as Fulani herders, bandits, Boko Haram, and ISWAP affiliates, disproportionately affecting Christian, Muslim, and traditional communities, particularly in Nigeria's Middle Belt and northeastern regions.
Inadequate government response or investigation into these attacks, including failures to prevent or swiftly address mass killings, kidnappings, and destruction of places of worship.
Enforcement of blasphemy laws in 12 northern states, leading to prolonged detentions and prosecutions that disproportionately impact religious minorities and dissenters.
Broader toleration of conditions enabling "particularly severe" violations, including torture, cruel punishment, disappearances, and denials of life, liberty, and security on religious grounds.
"USCIRF has recommended Nigeria for CPC designation since 2009 because of the government’s engaging and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations," the Commission stated in response to the 2025 designation.
Vice Chair Asif Mahmood emphasized the need to hold the Nigerian government accountable for blasphemy law enforcement and violence targeting multiple faith communities.
Despite the CPC designation, USCIRF noted in late 2025 that violence has escalated in some areas, underscoring that the label alone is insufficient calling for concrete U.S.-Nigeria collaboration to secure freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), pursue justice, and protect vulnerable populations.
The CPC status enables targeted U.S. actions, such as visa restrictions, potential sanctions, and diplomatic pressure, to incentivize reforms. USCIRF continues to urge swift implementation of these tools and broader U.S. engagement to address the "terrifying crisis of religious violence" in Nigeria.
USCIRF's recommendations reflect extensive monitoring, hearings (including a May 2025 session on governance and FoRB in Nigeria), country updates, and on-the-ground analysis.