The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United States has submitted a request to testify before the US House Subcommittee on Africa. The move comes as American lawmakers are reviewing former President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to alleged religious persecution.
According to a letter addressed to Subcommittee Chairman, Rep. Chris Smith, the APC USA is prepared to send a high-level delegation to present firsthand intelligence and verifiable data on Nigeria’s security realities. Chairman of the APC USA, Prof Tai Balofin, confirmed the request, stating that the group aims to provide clarity on what it perceives as misconceptions surrounding Nigeria’s security challenges.
The APC USA argues that the insecurity in Nigeria is driven by a combination of factors, including banditry, resource conflict, climate pressures, and transnational crime, rather than solely by religious persecution. The group believes that Congress deserves a comprehensive understanding of the situation before drawing conclusions. The proposed testimony will also highlight security gains made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Furthermore, the APC USA delegation plans to recommend increased cooperation between the US and Nigeria on security, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian support. This development comes shortly after Nigeria criticized the United States for excluding it from a UN event focused on alleged killings of Nigerians from a particular faith group, hosted by American rapper Nicki Minaj.
The request to testify underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s security situation and the need for a nuanced understanding of the issues at play. As the US House Subcommittee on Africa continues its review, the APC USA’s testimony is likely to provide valuable insights into the country’s security realities and potential areas of cooperation between the US and Nigeria. The outcome of this review may have significant implications for US-Nigeria relations and the country’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern”.
