The United States chapter of the All Progressives Congress has formally requested to testify before the US House Subcommittee on Africa as American lawmakers prepare to review former President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of widespread persecution of Christians.
The review, scheduled for Thursday November 20 2025, will examine the rationale behind Trump’s decision to reinstate Nigeria on the Country of Particular Concern list. The designation carries significant diplomatic implications and places Nigeria under heightened global scrutiny.
In a statement released in Abuja, the APC USA Chairman, Tai Balofin, confirmed that the chapter had submitted a letter to the Subcommittee Chairman, Chris Smith, asking to be included as a witness during the hearing. Balofin said the party was ready to present what it described as firsthand intelligence, verifiable security data and a more comprehensive analysis of the country’s complex security challenges.
He argued that international debates on Nigeria’s alleged religious persecution often fail to reflect the multiple factors fueling violence in various regions of the country. According to him, the global narrative risks presenting a distorted picture that does not align with the realities on the ground.
“The narrative that is sometimes presented abroad risks oversimplifying a complex security crisis driven by banditry, resource conflicts, climate stress and transnational crime, not solely by religious persecution. We owe it to the American people and to millions of Nigerians to ensure Congress hears the complete picture before conclusions are drawn.” Balofin said.
He noted that the proposed delegation from APC USA was prepared to appear before Congress at short notice if invited.
Balofin further stated that the group intended to highlight what it considers notable progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in improving national security. These include advancements in counterterrorism operations, efforts to degrade extremist networks, the expansion of community based early warning systems and new initiatives aimed at strengthening interfaith dialogue across sensitive regions.
He emphasized that recent reductions in attacks across several hotspots had been recorded by both Nigerian security agencies and independent international observers, arguing that these improvements were being overlooked in international conversations.
Beyond addressing the Country of Particular Concern designation, the APC USA also plans to present proposals for deepening US Nigeria cooperation in security, intelligence sharing and humanitarian coordination. The group believes that stronger bilateral collaboration is essential for protecting all religious and ethnic communities in Nigeria without straining diplomatic relations.
Balofin described Chris Smith as a long standing advocate for global human rights and religious freedom. He urged the Subcommittee to allow APC USA, which he described as the official representative of Nigeria’s democratically elected government in the United States, to contribute meaningfully to a balanced and solution driven conversation.
“Chairman Chris Smith has been a consistent champion for human rights and religious liberty worldwide. We respectfully ask him to grant APC USA the opportunity to provide clarity, context and evidence that reflect the complexities of Nigeria’s security situation.” He said.
The development follows Nigeria’s criticism of the United States for excluding the country from a United Nations event hosted by American rapper Nicki Minaj, which focused on alleged targeted killings of Nigerians from a particular faith group. The government said the exclusion was unjust and contributed to a misleading narrative on religious violence in the country.
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