US targets Nigeria’s faith-based violence with $3.5m fund

The United States has unveiled a $3.5 million (about N5 billion) funding initiative aimed at improving how incidents of religious violence and freedom abuses are documented and reported across Nigeria.

The programme, introduced by the Office of International Religious Freedom under the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, invites organisations to apply for grants to strengthen data collection, reporting, and analysis of attacks tied to religion or belief.

According to the funding notice released on May 22, 2026, the project will run between two and four years, with one organisation expected to receive the award through either a grant or cooperative agreement.

The US said the initiative is designed to boost accountability by improving documentation of abuses carried out by both state and non-state actors.

In its statement, the department noted that various groups—including human rights advocates, journalists, academics, and survivors—have already contributed to evidence highlighting widespread violence involving groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and armed militias. It said these attacks have affected both Christian and Muslim communities.

The US also raised concerns about what it described as weak responses by Nigerian authorities to such incidents, warning that delayed or ineffective action has contributed to a cycle of impunity and recurring violence.

It further cited reports alleging that some security personnel have conducted raids on places of worship while pursuing suspects, sometimes injuring clergy and worshippers.

The initiative follows the designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by former US President Donald Trump in November 2025 over religious freedom concerns.

Applicants for the programme are expected to focus on high-risk areas, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, and select at least four states for implementation.

The opportunity is open to both US-based and international non-profit organisations, as well as academic institutions and other entities, although preference will be given to non-profits.

Submissions close on July 9, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of religious persecution, insisting that insecurity in the country affects people of all faiths. It also reaffirmed its ongoing collaboration with the US on counterterrorism efforts and broader security reforms.