The United States House of Representatives has approved a spending bill containing an amendment that would withhold 100 per cent of designated U.S. assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government meets specified security and accountability conditions.
The proposal, sponsored by Republican Congressman Greg Steube, raises an earlier threshold of 50 per cent and is tied to concerns over terrorism, internal violence and the protection of vulnerable communities.
The amendment was adopted during consideration of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. Under the proposal, U.S. assistance would remain suspended until the U.S. Secretary of State certifies that Nigeria has taken effective steps to prevent violence, protect affected communities, prosecute perpetrators and support victims. Steube argued that withholding only part of the funding would not provide enough incentive for meaningful action.
The measure still faces additional legislative steps before becoming U.S. law, including Senate consideration and presidential approval. If enacted in its current form, it could affect aspects of U.S. assistance to Nigeria tied to the appropriations bill. The proposal has already sparked debate over its potential impact on bilateral relations and Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity.
