The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that the U.S. State Department re-designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for 2026, citing alleged systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.
The USCIRF report release event held in U.S. Congress on Thursday specifically recommended that CPC countries be banned from engaging U.S. lobbyists, citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s $9 million deal.
This follows a 2025 designation where the U.S. government officially recognized alleged severe persecution of Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt.
It is also the 17th time Nigeria has been so recommended and it was only implemented by the Secretary of State once under the first President Donald Trump term in 2020 and again a second time during his current administration, in 2025.
Emmanuel Ogebe, Esq, of U.S.-Nigeria Law Group says the recommendation is a “double blow and potentially sets the stage for the Tinubu administration to be the only Nigerian government to receive two back to back CPC designations. Presently Buhari had had the 2020 CPC and Tinubu had the 2025 CPC.
“This development coming after his administration signed a $9 million lobbying contract is a stunning loss and a staggering waste of scarce national resources. Nigeria must terminate the GCI contract now.
“To be fair, Nigeria’s rulers have long tried influencing America including late Gen Sani Abacha who funded Christian and Muslim American clerics including Louis Farrakhan amongst others at the height of his heinous regime.
“With the advent of democracy, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo engaged Ambassador Andrew Young’s company – arguably the top living U.S. civil rights champion following the recent demise of icon Rev Jesse Jackson.
“Young’s firm attracted businesses to Nigeria and secured the historic visit of U.S. President George Bush to Nigeria amongst others. They ultimately helped facilitate the Obasanjo Presidential Library. Though some complained of Obasanjo’s longstanding closeness to Young since his first time as military dictator in the ‘70s when they were introduced by U.S. diplomat Bill Ford, the truth must be told that Young cared for Obasanjo’s late wife Stella Obasanjo while he was imprisoned just as he did the late wife of Dr MLK – Mrs Correta Scott King.
“This is not the same with Tinubu’s lobbyist contractor who has brought no value to him or Nigeria other than disdain, ridicule and indignation.
“At the USCIRF report release event in Congress yesterday, the commission specifically recommended that CPC countries be banned from engaging U.S. lobbyists citing Tinubu’s $9 million deal.
“This is immediately after last month’s controversial meetings of the First Lady hosted by GCI Lobbyists galvanized members of Congress who had three competing bills on Nigeria to coalesce into one and introduce the unified Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 7457) Protecting the Persecuted in Nigeria introduced by Congressmen Chris Smith, Riley M. Moore.
“This was a direct backlash to the lobby effort which was denounced in both congressional hearings and on TV interviews. Seldom has a lobbying contract backfired so spectacularly in Washington where lobbyists rule. But in today’s Washington, the lobbyists $9 million is blood money akin to the Judas’ 30 pieces for which he betrayed Jesus to death.
“True, President Jonathan engaged lobbyists during his own terrorism crisis which was also excoriated by some but his contract with Levick was $75,000 a month while Tinubu’s is $750,000 a month for the same issue.
“But Jonathan didn’t stop at lobbyists. Upon recommendation of a U.S. Congressional Delegation in which I participated, Jonathan set up the Victim Support Fund which worked extensively in humanitarian assistance.
“Furthermore he engaged South African mercenaries who turned the tide of loses in the war against terror until Buhari took over and stopped them.
“It should be clear that Jonathan’s government did not receive CPC designation because ultimately he responded to reason. What occurred was the US designation of Boko Haram as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” FTO in a successful advocacy campaign that I led which he resisted but ultimately acceded to.
“Let me be clear that improved security was not Jonathan’s undoing but his administration’s trenchant corruption. The U.S. backed his ascension as Acting President but ultimately switched to APC’s Buhari in 2015 elections as Tinubu well knows. Unlike Jonathan, Tinubu is not facing the kind of political insurgency which he and APC unleashed against him. The only insurgency he’s facing is terrorist insurgency as validated by the horrendous Ngoshe massacre of refugees/returnees or Major Mairiga and troops in Bama this week.
“Money will not cure this. Qatar that gave President Trump a $400 million aeroplane gift was recommended yesterday by USCIRF for Special Watch List designation which is the category below CPC. What is $9 million?
“President Obasanjo handled the Sharia crisis and averted worse crisis by performance and not lobbyists. When 911 happened, he flew to US in solidarity although he declined to join the Iraq war coalition.
“On another occasion when the White House refused him to see President Bush after he arrived Washington, following the reported escape of Charles Taylor from Nigeria, Obasanjo immediately ordered his recapture and restored his appointment and relationship.
“Tinubu must cancel the odious $9 million GCI Lobby contract immediately and focus on listening to the atrocities, persecution, pain and marginalization of his people and aggressively addressing them. $9 million would have built secure communities for the poor displaced people now slaughtered by terrorists this week. A commission needs to be appointed to look into the domestic and international concerns urgently.”
