The United States branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked to speak before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa as lawmakers prepare to review President Donald Trump’s decision to label Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” due to claims of Christian persecution.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2025, and will focus on Trump’s recent move to place Nigeria back on the list.
Tai Balofin, Chairman of APC USA, revealed that the group has sent a formal request to Subcommittee Chairman Chris Smith, asking to be part of the session. He said the party is ready to send a team to share what it calls firsthand facts and reliable information about Nigeria’s security situation.
In a statement shared with reporters in Abuja, Balofin said that many international discussions about Nigeria’s challenges often miss the full picture. He explained that the APC USA team is prepared to speak to Congress as soon as needed.
“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,” he said.
Balofin also mentioned that their testimony would focus on what they see as real progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
He added, “These include progress in degrading terrorist networks, improvements in community-based early-warning systems, and initiatives that promote interfaith harmony. Recent reductions in attacks across several hotspots have been documented by both Nigerian authorities and independent international monitors.”
The APC USA plans to suggest ways the U.S. and Nigeria can work more closely on security, intelligence, and humanitarian aid. They believe this kind of teamwork is key to protecting all religious groups while keeping strong ties between both countries.
He said, “Chairman Chris Smith has been a consistent champion for human rights and religious liberty worldwide. We respectfully ask him to grant APC USA, the official voice of Nigeria’s democratically elected government in the United States, the opportunity to contribute to a fair, accurate, and solution-oriented discussion.”
This request comes shortly after Nigeria criticized the U.S. for leaving it out of a United Nations event hosted by rapper Nicki Minaj, which focused on alleged killings of Nigerians from a specific religious group.
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