The United States House of Representatives has introduced a new bill titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, aimed at holding Nigerian officials accountable for alleged human rights abuses and violations of religious freedo.
Filed as H.R.5808 in the 119th Congress, the bill was sponsored by Rep. Marlin A. Stutzman (Republican–Indiana, District 3) on October 21, 2025. It has been referred to both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration.
According to the bill’s provisions, the U.S. President is mandated to impose sanctions, as outlined under Executive Order 13818, on individuals identified in a report to be prepared by the U.S. Secretary of State. These sanctions target persons involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption related to Nigeria’s enforcement of blasphemy laws or tolerance of religiously motivated violence.
The legislation directs that, within 90 days of enactment and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State must submit a list of Nigerian officials — including federal and state leaders, judges, and law enforcement officers — who have:
Promoted or enforced blasphemy laws through legislation or executive action; or
Tolerated violence perpetrated by non-state actors citing religious justifications, including groups designated as terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.
The review period covers activities within 10 years prior to the bill’s enactment, and subsequent reports will assess actions between each reporting period.
The move follows the redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The designation also identifies Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) for their continued role in religiously motivated violence.
If enacted, the bill would significantly expand U.S. scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights record, signaling growing international pressure over alleged government complicity and inaction in religious persecution cases.
