Members of the US House of Representatives have backed an amendment that aims to stop all aid designated for Nigeria until the country’s federal government takes decisive action to stop violence, safeguard its citizens, and prosecute offenders.
Gregory Steube, a Florida senator, introduced the proposal on Wednesday, which would raise the withholding amount from 50% to 100%.
The House had previously suggested in April that until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken serious steps to curb violence and prosecute those responsible, half of the funding earmarked for Nigeria should be withheld.
Speaking in favor of the proposal, Steube claimed that keeping 50% of the aid amounted to rewarding the Nigerian government for failing to safeguard its population.
“While maintaining benchmarks that require Nigeria to take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country, I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria from 50% to 100%,” he declared.
The congressman charged that attacks on religious communities and ongoing insecurity were not sufficiently addressed by the Nigerian government.
“Nigeria has experienced a terrible wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address,” Steube stated.
“Nigeria has experienced a terrible wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address,” Steube stated.
“Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria have endured years of violence and terrorism at the hands of extremists operating with impunity, particularly in recent months.”
Attacks on Communities Cited by a Lawmaker
Steube claimed that attacks against women, girls, and places of religion had persisted and that the severity of the violence warranted more stringent requirements for US funding.
Christian women and girls are still kidnapped, beaten, tortured, and murdered. He remarked, “Entire communities are erased and their churches are burned.”
He contended that the entire assistance package should be suspended if the security and accountability standards were severe enough to warrant withholding half of the funding.
“If the bill’s aid requirements are significant enough to prevent the Nigerian government from receiving half of its total funding, then they are significant enough to prevent all of the funding,” he continued.
The Republican representative stated that governments accused of failing to defend religious freedom or combat terrorism should not receive assistance from American taxpayers.
“The generosity of our taxpayers is a reflection of the American values we hold so firmly,” stated Steube.
“We should never permit their hard-earned taxes to be diverted to corrupt governments that are unable to protect the innocent from persecution, maintain religious freedom, or effectively combat terrorism.”
“So, why are we rewarding a government that doesn’t fulfill such a fundamental duty?”
US Debt Cited by Steube
In light of the expanding national debt of the United States and the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, Steube also questioned the continuous distribution of foreign aid.
He claimed that it was irrational to distribute money without making sure that the aid was being used in a way that was in line with American ideals and interests.
He claimed that the amendment would increase Washington’s capacity to put pressure on the Nigerian government to defend vulnerable populations, take on terrorist organizations, and hold violent criminals accountable.
Before the withheld aid could be delivered, Nigeria would have to comply with the proposed security and human rights requirements.
