The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step to respond to growing international concerns over alleged state-sponsored persecution of Christians. During a closed-door session on Tuesday, lawmakers established a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate and draft a national response following recent claims by the United States suggesting possible acts of genocide in parts of Nigeria.
This development comes amid increasing diplomatic attention and fears that such allegations could harm Nigeria’s global reputation and strain interfaith relations. The committee, chaired by experienced lawmakers including Senators Victor Umeh, Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, and Abdul Ningi, has been tasked with producing a detailed position paper to guide the Senate and the Executive in engaging international partners.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized that the document must rely on verifiable data and reflect Nigeria’s realities. He noted that while the country faces serious security challenges, portraying them as religious persecution distorts the truth. The Senate also agreed to initiate direct dialogue with the U.S. Congress to correct what it called “misleading narratives” about the situation.
The motion, first raised by Senator Ali Ndume, highlighted concerns that exaggerated reports of Christian-targeted violence risk undermining Nigeria’s image and economy. Lawmakers insisted that terrorism in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims, urging a balanced global understanding. Akpabio further proposed sending a smaller Senate delegation to Washington for a closed-door engagement with U.S. officials to present Nigeria’s perspective.
