S 2747119th CongressIntroduced

Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025

Introduced: Sep 9, 2025

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 would require the United States to formally designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and designate Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa (ISWAP) as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC). It would compel the President to impose sanctions under Executive Order 13818 on Nigerian individuals named in a Congress-approved annual report—specifically officials (federal and state) who promote or enforce blasphemy laws or tolerate violence justified by religion, including judges and law enforcement authorities who enforce such laws. The bill also obligates the Secretary of State to provide an annual (and a first-ten-year lookback) unclassified report listing those responsible, with possible classified annexes. In addition, the bill amends designations under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) to formally designate Nigeria as CPC and Boko Haram/ISWAP as EPC, while preserving waiver authorities if certain conditions are met. The aim is to leverage U.S. sanctions and international pressure to address violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.

Key Points

1Imposes sanctions on Nigerians identified in a Congressional report as promoting, enacting, or enforcing blasphemy laws, or tolerating violence by religiously motivated non-state actors, and on certain judicial or law enforcement officials who enforce those laws.
2Requires a comprehensive annual report to Congress (unclassified, with potential classified annex) listing Nigerian officials and other persons who meet the criteria, with the first report covering a 10-year lookback prior to enactment and subsequent reports covering the interval between reports.
3Designates Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and designates Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, with formal waivers available under specified conditions.
4Adds waiver authorities: CPC designation can be waived if neither CPC nor EPC entities are operating in Nigeria and if Nigerian and sub-national governments are not enforcing blasphemy laws; EPC designation can be waived if the non-designated entity is not currently operating.
5Technical correction to the International Religious Freedom Act language to fix wording (religious freedom vs. freedom religion).

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Nigerian federal officials, state governors, judges, magistrates, prison officials, and other law enforcement authorities who have promoted, enforced, or tolerated blasphemy laws or religiously justified violence; individuals and entities designated in the annual State Department reports, who would face U.S. sanctions (e.g., asset blocks, restrictions on transactions).Secondary group/area affected- Nigerian religious minorities and civil society organizations focused on freedom of religion, who may experience both protections from or tensions related to blasphemy-law enforcement and government action; Nigerian non-state actors (e.g., Boko Haram, ISWAP) and their supporters, who would be targeted as EPCs.Additional impacts- U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic and economic relations, with potential leverage to encourage reforms in religious freedom, but also possible frictions or pushback from Nigerian authorities or segments of society.- Effects on international human rights advocacy, foreign policy debates in Congress, and the broader use of sanctions as a tool to address religious freedom concerns.- Operational and governance implications in Nigeria if officials alter policies to avoid sanctions, or if enforcement of blasphemy laws shifts in response to international pressure.

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