US House Backs Full Aid Freeze Proposal for Nigeria

Members of the United States House of Representatives have backed an amendment seeking to suspend all assistance for Nigeria until the government takes stronger action to prevent violence and protect citizens.

The proposal, introduced by Florida lawmaker Gregory Steube, would increase the proposed aid restriction from 50 per cent to 100 per cent. The amendment requires Nigeria to meet specific security and accountability conditions before the funds can be released.

The Nigeria US aid amendment follows an earlier proposal in April, which called for half of the allocated assistance to be withheld until the US Secretary of State confirms that Nigeria has taken credible steps to address insecurity and prosecute offenders.

Steube argued that keeping only half of the funds would reward the Nigerian government despite what he described as failures to protect communities. He said the full suspension would create stronger pressure for action.

“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria from 50 per cent to 100 per cent, while keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country,” he said.

The lawmaker raised concerns about attacks affecting religious communities, women, girls, and places of worship. He said stronger conditions were necessary to encourage accountability and improve protection for vulnerable groups.

Steube also linked the proposal to concerns about US foreign aid policy and rising national debt, arguing that American taxpayer funds should support governments that demonstrate commitment to security and human rights.

The amendment would allow Washington to maintain pressure on Nigeria while requiring measurable progress before releasing the withheld assistance.

What impact could this proposed aid restriction have on Nigeria’s security efforts and international relations?