US retains Nigeria on Country of Particular Concern list despite security efforts
Nigeria remains under the United States’ Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation after Washington and Abuja concluded the second session of their Joint Working Group without announcing any change to the designation. The post US retains Nigeria on Country of Particular Concern list despite security efforts appeared first on Nairametrics .
The United States has maintained Nigeria on its Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, despite both nations concluding a second session of their Joint Working Group without altering the designation. This decision was announced in a U.S. State Department statement following a meeting between Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on August 12, 2026.
The meeting, the second of its kind since Nigeria's designation as a CPC in October 2025, saw both countries discuss advancements in security, religious freedom, and accountability.
President Donald Trump originally designated Nigeria as a CPC on October 31, 2025, citing persecution of Christians, particularly in northern Nigeria. The second Joint Working Group built upon progress made during the inaugural session held in Abuja on January 22, 2026. The United States recognized Nigeria's reported efforts, including countering terrorism financing, enhancing biometric information sharing to support accountability, and strengthening law enforcement capabilities through partnerships with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Bureau of Counterterrorism.
During the second Joint Working Group, Hooker and Ribadu met separately to advance broader bilateral priorities, including protecting Christian communities and deepening security cooperation. Nigeria's CPC designation emerged as a significant diplomatic issue following Trump's announcement in October 2025, driven by reports of attacks on Christian communities.
In response, Nigeria reportedly engaged a Republican-linked lobbying firm in Washington, operating under a $750,000 monthly contract, to counter allegations of 'Christian genocide' and challenge separatist narratives within conservative and evangelical circles associated with the Trump administration.
While U.S. officials acknowledged Nigeria's increased efforts in counterterrorism prosecutions, judicial reforms, and the protection of Christian communities, the second Joint Working Group did not indicate any shift in the CPC designation.
Written by urgent.news from Nairametrics's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
