The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to withhold 100 percent of certain US assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government takes effective measures to curb violence and improve the protection of its citizens.
The amendment, sponsored by Representative Gregory Steube of Florida’s 17th Congressional District, was adopted through a voice vote on Wednesday, strengthening an earlier proposal that sought to withhold only 50 percent of the funds.
Under the revised measure, no designated US assistance will be released until the US Secretary of State certifies that Nigeria has taken “effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable.”
Speaking in support of the amendment, Steube argued that withholding only half of the assistance would amount to rewarding a government that has failed in its primary responsibility of protecting its people.
“I rise in strong support of my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria from 50 percent to 100 percent, while maintaining the benchmarks requiring Nigeria to take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country,” he said.
The Republican lawmaker accused the Nigerian government of failing to adequately confront escalating insecurity and protect vulnerable communities, particularly Christians and other religious minorities.
According to Steube, years of violence by extremist groups have left many communities devastated, with reports of killings, abductions, assaults and the destruction of churches continuing unabated.
He maintained that if the conditions attached to the bill justify withholding half of the assistance, they should equally justify suspending the entire allocation until meaningful progress is recorded.
“The generosity of American taxpayers reflects the values we hold dearly. Their hard-earned tax dollars should not be channelled to corrupt governments that fail to uphold religious freedom, confront terrorism or protect innocent citizens from persecution,” he said.
Questioning continued US support for Nigeria amid worsening insecurity, Steube also pointed to America’s growing fiscal challenges.
“It is absurd to continue sending foreign aid to Nigeria while insecurity continues to worsen and the United States’ national debt is approaching $40 trillion,” he added.
If the measure becomes law, the Nigerian government would be required to demonstrate measurable progress in tackling violence, protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring accountability before the suspended assistance can be restored.
