United States Congressman Barry Moore has sponsored a legislative measure, designated as H.R. 10939, aimed at prohibiting paid lobbying activities on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria within American borders. The initiative seeks to bar Abuja from retaining Washington lobbying firms for the entire duration that the West African nation retains its status as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
Under the proposed statute, any American lobbying entity that accepts financial compensation to advocate for Nigerian state interests while the country stays on the CPC register would face legal penalties. This legislative action stems from rising anxieties among members of the United States Congress regarding reported violence and the targeting of Christian communities in Nigeria.
Representative Moore asserted that the Nigerian administration has deployed substantial financial resources toward Washington consultants to downplay security incidents affecting Christians, rather than adequately addressing the underlying 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 stated.
What are the main provisions of the bill?
If enacted into law, the legislation will criminalize the receipt of payments by any individual or corporate entity in the US for lobbying services connected to the Nigerian state until the CPC designation is officially removed by Washington authorities. The proposal has subsequently been forwarded to the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs for preliminary review and further legislative processing.
Historical context shows that Nigeria was previously placed back onto the Country of Particular Concern index by the United States Department of State in 2025 following persistent international scrutiny over religious liberty violations.