A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives is seeking closer cooperation with Nigeria to address alleged links between illegal mining operations tied to Chinese interests and militia funding.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers — Riley Moore, Chris Smith, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart and Bill Huizenga.
The bill directs the U.S. Secretary of State to work with the Nigerian government to counter what it describes as “hostile foreign exploitation” of Nigeria’s mineral resources, including alleged protection payments by illegal mining operators to armed groups.
If passed, the measure would provide technical support for disarmament programmes, counter-terrorism cooperation and efforts to curb militia-related violence. It also calls for coordination with international partners such as France, Hungary and the United Kingdom to promote peace and religious freedom.
The legislation further requires a review to determine whether some “Fulani-ethnic militias” should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisations under U.S. law, which could trigger sanctions and other enforcement measures.
Lawmakers cited a 2023 report alleging that some Chinese nationals in Nigeria’s mining sector indirectly funded armed groups in the northwest to secure access to mineral resources, raising concerns about foreign involvement in Nigeria’s security challenges.
The bill remains at an early stage and must be approved by both chambers of the U.S. Congress before it can become law.
