APC USA Chairman Urges U.S. Congress to Prioritize Partnership Over Sanctions in Nigeria’s Religious Freedom Debate
Prof. Tai Balofin, Chairman of APC USA and official representative of Nigeria’s ruling party in the United States, presented testimony before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa during a hearing on Nigeria’s redesignation as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). Addressing Chairman Chris Smith and members of Congress, he acknowledged the significant suffering of Christian communities while urging the U.S. to adopt a balanced understanding of Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
Balofin highlighted that Nigeria’s current violence is driven less by Boko Haram’s religious insurgency and more by widespread criminal banditry and kidnappings that affect both Muslims and Christians. He cited data showing that over 60% of 2025 abductions occurred in predominantly Muslim areas of Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna. He also stressed that allegations of religious persecution are increasingly politicized as the 2027 elections approach.
He outlined the Nigerian government’s security progress under President Tinubu, noting expanded military deployments, the use of U.S.-supplied Super Tucano aircraft, and successful operations that neutralized key bandit groups. These efforts, he said, contributed to a 28% reduction in communal violence this year. Balofin urged Congress to support continued U.S.-Nigeria cooperation instead of broad punitive measures.
To strengthen bilateral engagement, he proposed three actions: creating a joint U.S.-Nigeria Religious Freedom and Security Working Group, renewing USAID-backed community resilience programs proven to reduce violence, and establishing a transparent Victims of Violence Trust Fund to assist all affected Nigerians equally. He appealed to lawmakers to champion “the full truth,” not narratives shaped by politics or partial reporting.
In the first panel, State Department officials Jonathan Pratt and Jacob McGee acknowledged both the religious and non-religious dimensions of Nigeria’s conflict. Pratt emphasized the multifaceted drivers of violence and called for deeper diplomatic engagement, while McGee stressed the need to address impunity, citing cases like the murder of Deborah Samuel. McGee recommended conditioning certain forms of U.S. assistance on accountability measures and exploring targeted sanctions where necessary.
The second panel featured experts including CSIS’s Oge Onubogu, who cautioned against reducing Nigeria’s crisis to purely religious terms. She emphasized governance weaknesses, historical grievances, and economic pressures as key contributors to conflict. She encouraged “smart partnerships” focused on local governance reforms, youth employment, and interfaith dialogue rather than sweeping sanctions. Other witnesses, including Nina Shea and Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, highlighted ongoing attacks on Christian communities and urged stronger U.S. pressure on Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the hearing demonstrated bipartisan concern for Nigeria’s stability and religious freedom environment. Lawmakers debated policy tools such as targeted sanctions and aid conditionality, while APC USA reaffirmed its commitment to transparent engagement and collaborative solutions aimed at protecting all Nigerians regardless of faith.