U.S. Lawmaker Renews Criticism of Tinubu Over Nigeria’s Insecurity

A member of the United States Congress, Riley Moore, has renewed criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over worsening insecurity in Nigeria, warning that continued U.S. support may hinge on stricter compliance with human rights and security benchmarks.

Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, made his position known in a statement posted on X on Wednesday, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to adequately address violence, particularly against Christian communities.

“The Tinubu Administration is spending millions lobbying Congress while failing to adequately address the genocide Nigerian Christians face daily,” he said.

The lawmaker referenced a U.S. State Department appropriations bill recently passed at the committee level, which introduces tighter conditions for security assistance to Nigeria. According to him, the legislation seeks to ensure accountability and measurable progress in tackling insecurity.

“In this bill, I worked with @MarioDB to restrict Security Assistance to Nigeria unless certain criteria are met,” Moore said, noting that such conditions include “effectively responding to violence and holding perpetrators accountable,” “prioritizing resources for internally displaced persons,” and “actively returning displaced persons to their ancestral homelands.”

He added that the bill compels the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to evaluate Nigeria’s performance against these conditions before any funding is released.

“It requires @SecRubio to assess Abuja’s compliance with these standards,” he stated.

Moore further outlined additional requirements embedded in the proposed legislation, including commitments to “atrocities prevention,” “advancing religious freedom,” and the prosecution of “Fulani ethnic militia groups, criminal gangs, and other jihadist terrorist groups.” He also stressed the need for “accountability for police and security forces” and improved humanitarian response mechanisms.

On oversight, the congressman said Nigeria has now been placed under stricter congressional monitoring. “The bill we passed out of committee also adds Nigeria to the list of countries requiring much higher levels of oversight. The Secretary is required to submit a plan for every dollar appropriated to Nigeria, and every dollar spent will have direct Congressional oversight,” he said.

He also pointed to provisions supporting decentralised policing as part of efforts to curb violence in affected regions. “That provision also bolsters support for the establishment of state level police forces so Christians in Plateau and Benue aren’t sitting ducks waiting for help from Abuja,” Moore added.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the current administration’s response, he said: “In my view, the Tinubu administration has failed to live up to the conditions the appropriations committee placed on security assistance. I urge @SecRubio to take this into account in administering both FY26 and FY27 funding.”

Moore’s latest intervention is consistent with his earlier stance on Nigeria’s security challenges. In November 2025, he criticised the Federal Government for what he described as inadequate utilisation of U.S. military support.

“My brothers and sisters in Christ are murdered for practising their faith and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ,” he had said, warning that the situation could deteriorate further without decisive action.

The Nigerian government has repeatedly dismissed allegations of targeted religious persecution, insisting that the country’s security challenges are complex and affect citizens across religious and ethnic divides. Authorities attribute the violence to insurgency, banditry and organised criminal networks rather than a singular religious agenda.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has also maintained that its security cooperation with the United States remains beneficial and does not compromise national sovereignty. In February, the military confirmed the deployment of about 100 U.S. personnel and equipment as part of ongoing bilateral efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism operations.

With Washington remaining a key security partner, Moore’s remarks underscore growing pressure within the U.S. Congress for stricter oversight of foreign assistance, particularly as it relates to accountability and human rights compliance in recipient countries.