US Congressman Bill Huizenga expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s escalating security crisis, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to take decisive action.
Speaking before the US House Subcommittee on Africa on Thursday, November 20, Huizenga criticized Nigerian officials for downplaying the severity of attacks targeting Christians, moderate Muslims, and other vulnerable groups. The hearing was convened to review Nigeria’s designation as a country of particular concern (CPC).
“It is unacceptable that radicalized Islamist groups continue to terrorize innocent citizens while the government is largely inactive,” Huizenga said, recalling a Christmas Eve 2023 attack that claimed 200 lives. He added that when asked by Nigerian media whether the Tinubu government was responding adequately, he had to answer, “No, they are not.”
Highlighting the disconnect between personal awareness and official narratives, the congressman noted that some US lawmakers and media representatives have either ignored or downplayed the ongoing crisis despite having ties to Nigeria through family, friends, or past experiences.
Huizenga also questioned the pattern of religious violence, asking, “Do we see Christians killing Muslims the way radicalized Islamists kill Christians in Muslim areas?”
The subcommittee will hear additional testimony from senior US State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders. The session follows US President Donald Trump’s reinstatement of Nigeria on the CPC list on October 31, 2025.