US commits $3.5m to monitor religious freedom violations in Nigeria

The United States Department of State has announced a $3.5 million (about N5 billion) funding programme aimed at strengthening the documentation and reporting of religious freedom abuses in Nigeria.

 

The initiative, unveiled by the Office of International Religious Freedom under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, seeks applications from organisations capable of improving monitoring and reporting of religion-related violence and abuses across the country.

 

According to a Notice of Funding Opportunity released on May 22, 2026, the project will run for between 24 and 48 months, with one organisation expected to receive the award through either a grant or cooperative agreement.

 

The State Department said the programme is designed to enhance accountability, advocacy and memorialisation efforts by improving the documentation of violations committed by both state and non-state actors.

 

“The Office of International Religious Freedom announces an open competition for organisations interested in submitting applications for projects that improve documentation and reporting efforts on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria, for accountability, advocacy, and memorialisation,” the notice stated.

 

The document cited violence attributed to Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Fulani militias and other armed groups, noting that both Christians and Muslims have been affected.

 

“Documenters, human rights and religious freedom advocates, religious leaders and community members, academics, journalists, and survivors have contributed to an evidence base that illustrates the extreme levels of violence perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, Fulani ethnic militias, and other armed actors against Christians and Muslims,” it said.

 

The US government also expressed concern over what it described as inadequate responses by Nigerian authorities to attacks on faith communities.

 

“Civil society reports indicate that authorities regularly fail to respond in a timely or effective manner to violent attacks against civilians and faith communities, and particularly attacks against Christians,” the notice stated.

 

It added that widespread impunity for such attacks had contributed to recurring violence and displacement.

 

The document further alleged that some Nigerian security personnel had raided places of worship while pursuing suspected criminals.

 

“There are also credible reports of Nigerian security personnel raiding places of worship and injuring clergy and congregants in search of alleged criminals,” it stated.

 

According to the State Department, the funding initiative follows President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” in November 2025 over alleged religious freedom violations.

 

“President Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern placed a spotlight on the severity of these longstanding and worsening problems,” the notice said.

 

The programme requires applicants to focus on improving accountability through the monitoring, documentation and reporting of religious freedom abuses. Organisations are also expected to prioritise activities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and identify at least four states where projects will be implemented.

 

Eligible applicants include US and foreign non-profit organisations, public international organisations, higher education institutions and for-profit entities, although the State Department indicated a preference for non-profit groups.

 

Applications will close on July 9, 2026.

 

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations of religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths and that efforts are ongoing to address security challenges through counterterrorism operations and institutional reforms.