APC USA to Address US Congress on Nigeria’s CPC status

The United States chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally requested to testify before the US House Subcommittee on Africa as lawmakers review Nigeria’s redesignation as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution. In a letter to Chairman Chris Smith, the group offered to send a high-level delegation to provide firsthand information on Nigeria’s security situation.

APC USA Chairman Prof. Tai Balofin said the group aims to clarify what it views as widespread misconceptions abroad. According to him, Nigeria’s insecurity is driven by banditry, resource conflict, climate pressures and transnational crime, rather than being solely rooted in religious tensions.

He added that the planned testimony would highlight what the group considers progress under President Bola Tinubu, including efforts to degrade terrorist networks and strengthen early-warning systems. The delegation also intends to recommend deeper security and intelligence cooperation between both countries.

The request comes as Nigeria criticised its exclusion from a recent UN event in New York focused on alleged religiously targeted killings. Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, warned that shutting the country out of such discussions risks escalating tensions. The US House Subcommittee on Africa is scheduled to convene today for a public hearing on the CPC designation.