Three Strategic Steps the Trump Administration Could Take to Enforce Nigeria’s CPC Designation
#KSA
05/11/2025
When the Trump administration designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom, it sent a clear message to the world: the persecution of Christians in Africa’s largest democracy would no longer be ignored. Yet, as Ambassador Robert Destro and Senator Josh Hawley have argued, a designation alone is not enough. It must be backed by decisive policy actions that pressure both Nigeria and its foreign enablers to end the violence.
Destro outlined three key strategies that the U.S. government can implement immediately—each capable of producing tangible results.
1. Cut Off Funding Channels from the Gulf States to Terror Groups
The first and most urgent step, according to Destro, is to halt the financial flow from oil-rich Gulf nations to terrorist networks operating in sub-Saharan Africa. He urged U.S. officials—particularly Secretary Marco Rubio or Secretary Pete Hegseth—to call America’s allies in the Gulf and demand an end to their covert sponsorship of armed Islamist groups.
“Some of our friends in the Gulf,” Destro emphasized, “are paying for the weaponry that’s being used to slaughter Christians.”
This concern is not unfounded. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned six individuals in the United Arab Emirates who transferred $782,000 to Boko Haram, the jihadist group responsible for thousands of deaths and mass abductions in northern Nigeria. Such funding pipelines have allowed violent extremism to thrive across Africa’s Sahel region. A coordinated diplomatic effort to cut off these sources of financing would significantly weaken the operational capacity of these terror cells and save countless lives.
2. Strengthen Local Security Through U.S. Training for Nigerian Police
The second measure focuses on improving Nigeria’s internal security capacity, particularly in protecting vulnerable Christian communities. Destro highlighted that Nigeria lacks an armed local police force, leaving communities defenseless against heavily armed militias and terrorist gangs. Instead, the Nigerian military—often slow to respond and stretched thin—is deployed for internal security duties that should fall under local policing.
To remedy this, the U.S. could leverage its State Department’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA). Since 1983, the ATA has trained over 165,000 law enforcement officials from more than 150 countries in counterterrorism techniques, crisis response, and community protection. Applying this program in Nigeria would provide local officers with the tools, discipline, and strategic intelligence needed to respond swiftly to attacks and prevent future massacres.
Such an initiative would not only enhance Nigeria’s security architecture but also promote accountability and community trust in law enforcement—a crucial step in preventing sectarian violence.
3. Condition or Suspend U.S. Aid Until Nigeria Confronts Religious Persecution
The third and perhaps most impactful option would be to use U.S. foreign aid as leverage to compel Nigeria’s government to act decisively against the persecution of Christians. Senator Josh Hawley put it bluntly: “We need to cut off aid to the country. Why are we sending them U.S. taxpayer money when their government, I believe, is complicit in this attempted decimation of the Christian population?”
Destro clarified that this approach need not involve canceling aid already allocated but rather redirecting future grants within the State Department’s African programs to countries that respect human rights and religious freedom. Nigeria would thus be sent a clear message: until it takes concrete steps to stop the killings and prosecute offenders, it should not expect continued U.S. financial support.
Such fiscal pressure could prove effective, especially given Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid for development and governance projects.
The CPC designation was never meant to be symbolic—it is a policy instrument designed to bring change. By targeting the financial lifelines of terrorism, empowering local law enforcement, and using foreign aid as leverage, the Trump administration has practical tools at its disposal to enforce accountability and protect persecuted Christians in Nigeria.
These three actions, taken together, would not only reaffirm America’s commitment to defending religious freedom worldwide but also help restore peace and hope to millions of Nigerians who have suffered under the shadow of jihadist violence.
#KSA
05/11/2025
When the Trump administration designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom, it sent a clear message to the world: the persecution of Christians in Africa’s largest democracy would no longer be ignored. Yet, as Ambassador Robert Destro and Senator Josh Hawley have argued, a designation alone is not enough. It must be backed by decisive policy actions that pressure both Nigeria and its foreign enablers to end the violence.
Destro outlined three key strategies that the U.S. government can implement immediately—each capable of producing tangible results.
1. Cut Off Funding Channels from the Gulf States to Terror Groups
The first and most urgent step, according to Destro, is to halt the financial flow from oil-rich Gulf nations to terrorist networks operating in sub-Saharan Africa. He urged U.S. officials—particularly Secretary Marco Rubio or Secretary Pete Hegseth—to call America’s allies in the Gulf and demand an end to their covert sponsorship of armed Islamist groups.
“Some of our friends in the Gulf,” Destro emphasized, “are paying for the weaponry that’s being used to slaughter Christians.”
This concern is not unfounded. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned six individuals in the United Arab Emirates who transferred $782,000 to Boko Haram, the jihadist group responsible for thousands of deaths and mass abductions in northern Nigeria. Such funding pipelines have allowed violent extremism to thrive across Africa’s Sahel region. A coordinated diplomatic effort to cut off these sources of financing would significantly weaken the operational capacity of these terror cells and save countless lives.
2. Strengthen Local Security Through U.S. Training for Nigerian Police
The second measure focuses on improving Nigeria’s internal security capacity, particularly in protecting vulnerable Christian communities. Destro highlighted that Nigeria lacks an armed local police force, leaving communities defenseless against heavily armed militias and terrorist gangs. Instead, the Nigerian military—often slow to respond and stretched thin—is deployed for internal security duties that should fall under local policing.
To remedy this, the U.S. could leverage its State Department’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA). Since 1983, the ATA has trained over 165,000 law enforcement officials from more than 150 countries in counterterrorism techniques, crisis response, and community protection. Applying this program in Nigeria would provide local officers with the tools, discipline, and strategic intelligence needed to respond swiftly to attacks and prevent future massacres.
Such an initiative would not only enhance Nigeria’s security architecture but also promote accountability and community trust in law enforcement—a crucial step in preventing sectarian violence.
3. Condition or Suspend U.S. Aid Until Nigeria Confronts Religious Persecution
The third and perhaps most impactful option would be to use U.S. foreign aid as leverage to compel Nigeria’s government to act decisively against the persecution of Christians. Senator Josh Hawley put it bluntly: “We need to cut off aid to the country. Why are we sending them U.S. taxpayer money when their government, I believe, is complicit in this attempted decimation of the Christian population?”
Destro clarified that this approach need not involve canceling aid already allocated but rather redirecting future grants within the State Department’s African programs to countries that respect human rights and religious freedom. Nigeria would thus be sent a clear message: until it takes concrete steps to stop the killings and prosecute offenders, it should not expect continued U.S. financial support.
Such fiscal pressure could prove effective, especially given Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid for development and governance projects.
The CPC designation was never meant to be symbolic—it is a policy instrument designed to bring change. By targeting the financial lifelines of terrorism, empowering local law enforcement, and using foreign aid as leverage, the Trump administration has practical tools at its disposal to enforce accountability and protect persecuted Christians in Nigeria.
These three actions, taken together, would not only reaffirm America’s commitment to defending religious freedom worldwide but also help restore peace and hope to millions of Nigerians who have suffered under the shadow of jihadist violence.
Three Strategic Steps the Trump Administration Could Take to Enforce Nigeria’s CPC Designation
#KSA
05/11/2025
When the Trump administration designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom, it sent a clear message to the world: the persecution of Christians in Africa’s largest democracy would no longer be ignored. Yet, as Ambassador Robert Destro and Senator Josh Hawley have argued, a designation alone is not enough. It must be backed by decisive policy actions that pressure both Nigeria and its foreign enablers to end the violence.
Destro outlined three key strategies that the U.S. government can implement immediately—each capable of producing tangible results.
1. Cut Off Funding Channels from the Gulf States to Terror Groups
The first and most urgent step, according to Destro, is to halt the financial flow from oil-rich Gulf nations to terrorist networks operating in sub-Saharan Africa. He urged U.S. officials—particularly Secretary Marco Rubio or Secretary Pete Hegseth—to call America’s allies in the Gulf and demand an end to their covert sponsorship of armed Islamist groups.
“Some of our friends in the Gulf,” Destro emphasized, “are paying for the weaponry that’s being used to slaughter Christians.”
This concern is not unfounded. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned six individuals in the United Arab Emirates who transferred $782,000 to Boko Haram, the jihadist group responsible for thousands of deaths and mass abductions in northern Nigeria. Such funding pipelines have allowed violent extremism to thrive across Africa’s Sahel region. A coordinated diplomatic effort to cut off these sources of financing would significantly weaken the operational capacity of these terror cells and save countless lives.
2. Strengthen Local Security Through U.S. Training for Nigerian Police
The second measure focuses on improving Nigeria’s internal security capacity, particularly in protecting vulnerable Christian communities. Destro highlighted that Nigeria lacks an armed local police force, leaving communities defenseless against heavily armed militias and terrorist gangs. Instead, the Nigerian military—often slow to respond and stretched thin—is deployed for internal security duties that should fall under local policing.
To remedy this, the U.S. could leverage its State Department’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA). Since 1983, the ATA has trained over 165,000 law enforcement officials from more than 150 countries in counterterrorism techniques, crisis response, and community protection. Applying this program in Nigeria would provide local officers with the tools, discipline, and strategic intelligence needed to respond swiftly to attacks and prevent future massacres.
Such an initiative would not only enhance Nigeria’s security architecture but also promote accountability and community trust in law enforcement—a crucial step in preventing sectarian violence.
3. Condition or Suspend U.S. Aid Until Nigeria Confronts Religious Persecution
The third and perhaps most impactful option would be to use U.S. foreign aid as leverage to compel Nigeria’s government to act decisively against the persecution of Christians. Senator Josh Hawley put it bluntly: “We need to cut off aid to the country. Why are we sending them U.S. taxpayer money when their government, I believe, is complicit in this attempted decimation of the Christian population?”
Destro clarified that this approach need not involve canceling aid already allocated but rather redirecting future grants within the State Department’s African programs to countries that respect human rights and religious freedom. Nigeria would thus be sent a clear message: until it takes concrete steps to stop the killings and prosecute offenders, it should not expect continued U.S. financial support.
Such fiscal pressure could prove effective, especially given Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid for development and governance projects.
The CPC designation was never meant to be symbolic—it is a policy instrument designed to bring change. By targeting the financial lifelines of terrorism, empowering local law enforcement, and using foreign aid as leverage, the Trump administration has practical tools at its disposal to enforce accountability and protect persecuted Christians in Nigeria.
These three actions, taken together, would not only reaffirm America’s commitment to defending religious freedom worldwide but also help restore peace and hope to millions of Nigerians who have suffered under the shadow of jihadist violence.
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