US reps pass bill to withhold all assistance to Nigeria until terror attacks are addressed
The US House of Representatives has passed an amendment to withhold 100 percent of aid to Nigeria until the government takes effective action against ongoing violence and terrorism. Representative Gregory Steube argued that previous 50 percent withholding was insufficient given the severity of the humanitarian crisis and religious persecution in the region.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in US foreign policy toward Nigeria, signaling increased pressure on the Nigerian government regarding human rights and security accountability.
The US house of representatives has agreed to an amendment bill that would increase withholding of assistance to Nigeria from 50 percent to 100 percent until the West African nation takes effective steps to prevent and respond to violence within its territory.
Gregory Stuebe, who represents Florida’s 17th congressional district in the house, proposed the amendment on Wednesday.
Lawmakers later agreed to the move with a voice vote.
The house had first proposed to halve funds appropriated for Nigeria in April until the secretary of state certified that the Nigerian government had taken “effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable”.
Speaking in support of his motion, Steube said withholding only 50 percent of the funds appeared to reward the Nigerian government “despite failure to meet its fundamental obligation to protect citizens”.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in