US lawmaker slams Biden for removing Nigeria from religious freedom watchlist
United States Representative, Nancy Mace, on Thursday criticised the ex-President Joe Biden administration’s approach to international religious freedom, saying in a post on her X account that “Nigeria has become one of the deadliest countries in the world for Christians.”
Mace pointed to the administration’s decision to remove Nigeria from the State Department’s Country of Particular Concern list, a designation reserved for nations accused of significant violations of religious liberty.
“Meanwhile, President Biden removed Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern list,” she wrote.
The lawmaker also drew a contrast with President Donald Trump, praising his stance on religious freedom and signalling support for his efforts to revisit the designation.
President Trump is working to reverse those decisions. 45/47 remains one of the most consequential presidents in American history,” Mace added.
The lawmaker’s statement comes in the wake of Trump’s remarks last month, in which he alleged that Christianity in Nigeria was facing an “existential threat” from radical Islamist groups.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that “thousands of Christians are being killed” and said he had designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern.”
He also directed the Pentagon to draw up “options for possible military measures” against terrorist groups in Nigeria — comments that drew condemnation from the FG and concern among global powers.
Tinubu dismissed the allegations, insisting that Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion and protects the rights of all faiths, while China and Russia urged Washington to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
This is the second time in five years that Nigeria has been placed on the CPC list.
The first came in December 2020, during Trump’s earlier administration, citing systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom.
The Biden administration removed Nigeria from the list in November 2021.
