The United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa will convene an open hearing on Thursday, November 20, 2025, to review President Donald Trump’s recent move to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
If upheld by the Senate, the CPC status could trigger sanctions against Nigerian officials implicated in religious persecution and restrict certain categories of U.S. assistance.
It also serves as a strong signal to the global community that religious freedom conditions in Nigeria remain deeply troubling.
The hearing, which is set for 11:00 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building and accessible via live webcast will be chaired by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ). It will feature two panels of witnesses, including senior US State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders.
The invite to the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, read, “You are respectfully requested to attend an open hearing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to be held by the Subcommittee on Africa at 11:00 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.”
According to the invite, panelists will include Senior Bureau Official of the Bureau of African Affairs, Jonathan Pratt, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Jacob McGee.
The second panel will include the Director of the Centre for Religious Freedom, Ms. Nina Shea; Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese; and Ms. Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic & International Studies.
The hearing is expected to examine not only the extent of religious persecution in Nigeria, but also potential U.S. policy options ranging from targeted sanctions and humanitarian support to deeper cooperation with Nigerian authorities to curb escalating violence.
