US Congressman Demands Full Aid Freeze on Nigeria Over Security Concerns

(Gregory Steube. Photo by NBC News)

US Congressman Gregory Steube has called on Congress to pass an amendment that would cut off 100 percent of American assistance to the Nigerian government until it takes what he considers meaningful action to tackle insecurity, terrorism, and the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.

Speaking on the House floor, Steube said Nigeria has endured a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address, alleging that churches have been burned, women and girls abducted, and extremist groups permitted to operate with near impunity.

He argued that if the existing bill already withholds half of the funding over these concerns, then those same issues are serious enough to justify withholding all of it.

Questioning why Washington should continue backing Abuja, he asked why the US would reward a government that fails to meet such a basic obligation.

He said the generosity shown by American taxpayers reflects the values the country holds dear, stressing that foreign aid should never serve as a reward for failure.

Steube maintained that the push was not intended to punish the Nigerian people but to demand accountability from their government, urging fellow lawmakers to ensure that any recipient of US support meets required standards first.

He called on Congress to support the amendment and suspend all assistance to Nigeria until the country meets the necessary benchmarks.