The United States’ administration of President Donald Trump will closely monitor Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 general elections, US Congressman, Riley Moore, has said

Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, while responding to questions about Nigeria’s next general election, described the conduct of the polls as an issue that Washington will be paying “very close attention to.”

He made the remarks in an interview with NoireTV posted on the platform’s social media pages on Sunday.

Asked whether the United States could do more to support credible elections in Nigeria, Moore said, “What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to.”

The lawmaker also disclosed that the US House of Representatives was considering an appropriations bill containing provisions relating to Nigeria, particularly on religious freedom and US security assistance.

“We’re working on Chris (Smith)’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor of that bill. But I’d say, more importantly, what people need to pay attention to is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor today,” Moore said.

According to him, the proposed legislation contains “pretty strong and aggressive language” on Nigeria’s relationship with the United States.

“There’s a lot of language that I put on that bill that’s inside of it that relates to Nigeria and the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and steps that they have to take.

“That bill’s likely to become law. We’re about to, hopefully, pass that here today. And so there’s some pretty strong and aggressive language in that bill that’s going to be binding as it relates to our relationship to Nigeria moving forward,” he added.

Moore said he would continue engaging the Trump administration on Nigeria-related issues and revealed he was scheduled to meet the US president.

“I continue to work with the administration on next steps that we’re going to take. I’m actually going to see President Trump tonight. I’ll be having dinner with him and some other members, so yeah, I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him,” he said.

Moore is a co-sponsor of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, introduced alongside Congressman Chris Smith in February.

The proposed legislation seeks to require the U.S. Secretary of State to submit periodic reports to Congress on efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.

The Smith-Moore bill proposes assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom obligations, U.S. security assistance, sanctions, humanitarian support, and measures taken by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute perpetrators of attacks.

The US House Appropriations Committee in April 2026 passed provisions in its annual State Department funding bill that impose stricter oversight and conditions on financial assistance to Nigeria.

The bill, forwarded to Congress for consideration, stipulates that 50 per cent of funds earmarked for Nigeria under foreign assistance titles will be withheld until it is certified that the government is taking “effective steps” to curb religious violence.

It also demands that funds must support investigations and prosecutions of violence committed by Fulani militia groups.

It further states that the government must facilitate the safe return of displaced persons. (Sunday PUNCH)

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