The bill follows President Donald Trump’s renewed accusation that Nigeria’s leaders have ignored what he called a “Christian genocide.”

Trump ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio to act immediately, adding that thousands of Christians were being killed.

In a post on Truth Social, he urged the House Appropriations Committee to investigate and “report back fast.”

If the bill passes, the United States could impose visa bans, asset freezes, and financial restrictions on Nigerian officials linked to the enforcement of blasphemy laws.

The sanctions would fall under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights framework.

The roots of the dispute

The U.S. concern centers on the expansion of Sharia law in northern Nigeria, which began after the return to democracy in 1999.

Zamfara State, under Governor Ahmad Sani Yerima, was the first to adopt a full Sharia-based legal code.

Within two years, 11 other states, including Kano, Sokoto, Katsina, Bauchi, and Borno, followed.

While Sharia law applies only to Muslims, human rights groups have documented several cases where non-Muslims were affected or where mobs took the law into their own hands.

The murder of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto in 2022, after accusations of blasphemy, remains one of the most shocking examples.

Nigeria was first listed as a “Country of Particular Concern” in 2020 under the Trump administration.

The U.S. State Department cited “systematic and egregious violations” of religious freedom, including Boko Haram attacks and judicial bias in religiously sensitive cases.

Senator Cruz argued that the situation has worsened. “Since 2009, over 52,000 Christians have been murdered and 20,000 churches destroyed,” he claimed while presenting the bill.

He accused Nigerian authorities of “institutionalizing Sharia law and enabling jihadist violence.”

Nigeria pushes back

The Nigerian government rejected the allegations. In a lengthy policy paper titled Nigeria’s Constitutional Commitment to Religious Freedom and Rule of Law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that the country’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and forbids any state religion.

“Sharia in Nigeria is not a nationwide system,” the statement read. “It applies only to Muslims, and even then, only in states that voluntarily adopted it. Non-Muslims cannot be tried under Sharia law.”

The government added that public-order laws often mistaken for blasphemy provisions are “content-neutral” and aim to prevent violence rather than suppress free speech.

It also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts against terrorism, saying thousands of Boko Haram and ISWAP members had been arrested or rehabilitated.

“The claim that Nigeria persecutes Christians is inaccurate,” the statement continued.

“Christians freely build churches, run schools, and hold public office. Religious coexistence remains a national commitment.”

Trump’s threat and the diplomatic fallout

Despite the government’s defence, President Trump issued one of his strongest warnings yet.

He accused Nigerian authorities of allowing terrorists to “wipe out cherished Christians” and said he had instructed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible action.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, we will stop all aid and may go into that now disgraced country, guns blazing,” Trump wrote.

The statement caused a storm in diplomatic circles. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed in an X post that his department was “preparing for action” if Nigeria failed to protect Christians.

Under the draft bill, both Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa would also be designated as “Entities of Particular Concern.”

Tinubu’s response

President Bola Tinubu plans to meet Trump during his upcoming visit to Washington to address the growing tension.

His aide, Daniel Bwala, confirmed that the two leaders would discuss terrorism and clarify “misconceptions about the nature of attacks in Nigeria.”

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga added that Tinubu had already warned security chiefs to act decisively against new armed groups in the North-Central and North-West.

“Nigerians expect results, not excuses,” Tinubu told the service chiefs, urging them to “smash new snakes right in the head.”

Voices from diplomacy and faith

Former ambassadors warned that the proposed U.S. sanctions could damage Nigeria’s economy and weaken security cooperation.

Mohammed Mabdul, a former envoy to Portugal, said the designation would affect U.S. aid and the supply of military equipment.

“Nigeria buys most of its advanced weapons from America. If cooperation stops, our fight against terrorists will suffer,” he noted.

Retired diplomat Godknows Igali advised using friendly nations to mediate the dispute. “Powerful countries often pursue their interests. We must use diplomacy, not confrontation,” he said.

Foreign affairs analyst Charles Onunaiju called the move “a reflection of long-standing hostility.”

He warned that the label could discourage investors. “When you designate a country for genocide, you scare away investment,” he explained.

Reactions at home

Northern CAN Chairman Rev. John Hayab said Trump’s warning should push Nigeria’s leaders to act more decisively. “The killings are real,” he said.

“All Trump is saying is, stop them. Take responsible action.”

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urged calm, stressing that Trump’s threat should be understood as targeting terrorist groups, not Muslims.

Its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said, “If strikes are directed at Boko Haram or ISWAP, they’ll be justified. But any attack on civilians would be religious aggression.”

He warned Muslim youths against reacting violently or staging protests. “No anti-American action is needed. Let’s maintain peace,” he advised.

Meanwhile, former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso urged both nations to work together. He said the U.S. should provide technology to help Nigeria fight terrorism instead of “threatening a sovereign country.”

“The insecurity we face affects everyone,” Kwankwaso said. “We need partnership, not punishment.”

Analysts warn of wider risks

Experts fear the CPC label could have long-term diplomatic and economic consequences. Former Foreign Ministry spokesman Ogbole Amedu-Ode warned that it might reduce Western investment and lead to international isolation. “We could see economic slowdown and political tension,” he said.

He added that the controversy should be “a wake-up call” for Nigeria’s leaders. “They must take their constitutional responsibilities seriously. This is a chance to prove that we can protect all citizens equally.”

The road ahead

As Tinubu prepares for his U.S. visit, the stakes remain high. The proposed bill has broad support among conservative lawmakers, and Trump’s renewed influence in Congress adds pressure.

Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Washington is expected to lobby against the bill, arguing that the country has made progress in curbing religious violence and upholding constitutional rights.

For many Nigerians, however, the debate exposes deeper issues at home—security, justice, and faith in the rule of law.

The outcome of Tinubu’s talks with Trump could decide whether the world’s most populous black nation faces U.S. sanctions or a new phase of cooperation.