A United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has again taken aim at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the country’s worsening security situation, warning that future U.S. assistance could be tied to stricter performance benchmarks.
Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, voiced his concerns in a post on X on Wednesday, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to adequately confront violence, particularly attacks affecting 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 pointed to a U.S. State Department appropriations bill currently under consideration, noting that it introduces tougher conditions for Nigeria to access security assistance. He explained that the proposal is designed to ensure accountability and measurable results in addressing insecurity.
“In this bill, I worked with @MarioDB to restrict Security Assistance to Nigeria unless certain criteria are met,” Moore stated, listing conditions such as “effectively responding to violence and holding perpetrators accountable,” “prioritizing resources for internally displaced persons,” and “actively returning displaced persons to their ancestral homelands.”
According to him, the legislation requires the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to assess Nigeria’s compliance before approving funding.
“It requires @SecRubio to assess Abuja’s compliance with these standards,” he added.
Moore further said the bill outlines broader priorities for U.S. engagement, including “atrocities prevention,” “advancing religious freedom,” and the prosecution of “Fulani ethnic militia groups, criminal gangs, and other jihadist terrorist groups,” alongside ensuring “accountability for police and security forces” and strengthening humanitarian interventions.
He also highlighted enhanced congressional scrutiny of Nigeria, noting that future assistance would come under tighter 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,” Moore said.
The congressman further referenced provisions aimed at improving security at the sub-national level. “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,” he said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration, Moore concluded: “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.”
The latest remarks echo Moore’s earlier criticisms of Nigeria’s handling of insecurity. In November 2025, he faulted the Federal Government’s response to persistent violence despite years 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 at the time.
However, Nigerian authorities have consistently rejected claims that the violence is driven by religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity in the country stems from a mix of insurgency, banditry and organised crime affecting diverse communities.
The Defence Headquarters has also defended ongoing military cooperation with the United States, stating that such partnerships are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to combat evolving threats and do not undermine national sovereignty. In February, the military confirmed the deployment of about 100 U.S. personnel and equipment as part of bilateral security engagements.
Analysts say Moore’s comments reflect growing pressure within the U.S. Congress for stricter oversight of foreign aid, particularly as it relates to human rights compliance and accountability in recipient countries.
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