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The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment seeking to increase the suspension of US assistance to Nigeria from 50 per cent to 100 per cent until the country demonstrates effective measures to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
The amendment, sponsored by Gregory Steube, a Republican representing Florida’s 17th Congressional District, was adopted through a voice vote by lawmakers on Wednesday.
The move expands on an earlier proposal by the House to withhold half of the funds allocated to Nigeria until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken meaningful steps to address insecurity and protect citizens.
Speaking in support of the amendment, Steube argued that maintaining a 50 per cent funding restriction could be interpreted as rewarding the Nigerian government despite concerns over its response to security challenges.
He said increasing the threshold to 100 per cent would ensure that assistance remains tied to measurable progress in addressing violence, protecting vulnerable communities, and improving accountability.
According to Steube, Nigeria has experienced persistent security challenges, including attacks by extremist groups, kidnappings, and violence affecting religious and minority communities, which he claimed required stronger action from the government.
He maintained that US taxpayer funds should not continue to support countries that fail to adequately address terrorism, protect citizens, and uphold fundamental rights.
The lawmaker also argued that withholding all assistance would ensure that US foreign aid serves as a tool for promoting accountability and security reforms.
The development comes amid growing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, with both countries strengthening collaboration in counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in northern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has reiterated its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s security sector reforms through improved accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights.
The British High Commission’s Head of Development Cooperation, Ms Cynthia Rowe, stated this during a roundtable discussion on national security at the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja.
Rowe said the UK Government, through its Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme, remains committed to supporting legislative frameworks that promote effective, transparent, and people-centred security interventions.
She noted that lasting security requires strong institutions capable of responding effectively to the needs of citizens.
“The UK Government remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s legislative frameworks to ensure that security interventions are transparent, adequately resourced, and firmly grounded in respect for human rights,” she said.
Rowe described the roundtable as an important step towards strengthening reforms that protect vulnerable communities and promote long-term stability.
She added that discussions during the event aligned with the objectives of the SPRiNG programme, particularly in addressing security challenges such as banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, inter-agency cooperation, technology-driven security solutions, and modern community engagement strategies.
Also speaking, the Team Leader of the SPRiNG programme, Mr Ukoha Ukiwo, stressed the importance of strong legislative frameworks in promoting accountability and transparency within the security sector.
Ukiwo said experiences from interventions across Nigerian states have shown that effective peace-building efforts require strong legal backing and coordinated security structures.
“The focus of this roundtable on state policing, security funding, and accountability is incredibly timely. By bridging the gap between grassroots realities and legislative action, we can ensure that formal and informal security structures work together to build stronger resilience in communities across Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the SPRiNG programme remains ready to support further engagements with stakeholders to ensure that recommendations from the dialogue translate into practical reforms.
