US Congressman Barry Moore has introduced legislation seeking to stop the Nigerian government from paying American lobbying firms while Nigeria remains designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over religious freedom concerns.
The proposed legislation, known as H.R. 10939, would prohibit individuals and firms in the United States from receiving compensation to lobby on behalf of the Nigerian government for as long as the country’s CPC designation remains in place.
Moore, a Republican representative from Alabama, accused the Nigerian government of spending millions of dollars on lobbying activities in Washington to counter criticism over attacks on Christians instead of doing more to address the violence.
“For too long, the Nigerian government has paid high-priced lobbyists in Washington to cover up the persecution of Christians while doing little to stop it. This bill will end that,” Moore said.
The proposal comes amid growing scrutiny in the United States over reports of violence against Christians in Nigeria and concerns about the government’s response to religiously motivated attacks.
Nigeria was designated a Country of Particular Concern by US President Donald Trump on October 31, 2025, under the International Religious Freedom Act. The designation followed concerns raised by American officials and religious freedom organisations about violence affecting Christian communities. The designation remains in place, with the United States and Nigeria continuing discussions on religious freedom and security issues.
The proposed legislation would make it harder for the Nigerian government to use paid American lobbying services to influence discussions about its religious freedom record in Washington. Its stated purpose is to prohibit compensated lobbying on behalf of Nigeria for the duration of the country’s CPC designation.
H.R. 10939 was introduced on October 29, 2026, and referred to the US House Committee on the Judiciary. This is an important detail in the legislative process, as the proposal was sent to the Judiciary Committee, not the Foreign Affairs Committee as initially reported.
The bill has not passed the House or the Senate and has not become law. Its introduction therefore does not mean that American lobbying firms are already prohibited from representing the Nigerian government. Any proposed restrictions would depend on the legislation progressing through Congress and completing the required approval process.
Nigeria has previously challenged the US position on religious freedom. Following the October 2025 designation, the Nigerian government rejected the allegations, arguing that the country’s security crisis affects both Christians and Muslims and that the violence should be understood within the wider context of terrorism and insecurity.
Reuters
The dispute has also attracted attention because Nigeria faces several overlapping security challenges, including attacks by armed groups and violence in communities across different parts of the country. The religious motivations behind individual attacks and the government’s responsibility for addressing them remain subjects of international debate.
For now, H.R. 10939 remains at the committee stage. Whether it advances will depend on its consideration by lawmakers, but its introduction adds another dimension to the diplomatic tensions between Washington and Abuja over religious freedom, security and Nigeria’s use of American lobbying services.
