U.S. representative for New Jersey’s 4th congressional district, Rep Chris Smith. has revealed that the Obama administration blocked Nigeria from being designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), which was recommended by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The USCIRF has been making recommendations since 2009 concerning Nigeria, where thousands of Christians and non-radical Muslims are executed by Islamist extremists for their religious beliefs every year.

Speaking during a floor debate on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2026 (HR 1744), Smith noted progress under the Trump administration.

“USCIRF recommended Nigeria for the CPC list in 2009 and has done so every year since. But the Obama Administration would not make the designation,” stated Smith.

“The first Trump Administration got it done in 2020, but the Biden Administration returned to the Democratic position of attributing this horrific modern martyrdom to climate change and tribal conflict.

“The second Trump Administration restored Nigeria to the CPC list last year. Through it all, USCIRF recommended CPC status, calling it like it is and pulling no punches,” asserted the senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“USCIRF is a genuinely independent force, a constructive influence on the State Department… USCIRF is important to millions of people of all faiths. I therefore ask all our colleagues to join us in reauthorising it for two more years,” Smith said.

USCIRF, an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency designed to promote religious freedom, was created through the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998 (PL 105-292), of which Smith was an original cosponsor. The law instituted a strong, coordinated U.S. government response for addressing and combatting worldwide religious persecution, establishing numerous religious freedom-focused offices and positions at the State Department and the National Security Council.

According to Smith, the commission defends the universal right to freedom of religion abroad. It sponsors hearings, fact-finding trips, and reviews reports of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Reauthorization Act of 2026 (HR 1744). (Guardian)

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