PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s October 31, 2025, “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) designation for Nigeria—citing thousands of Christian deaths by Islamist militants—has triggered a 90-day policy review under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, paving the way for escalating U.S. measures.
Formalised by Secretary Marco Rubio, the label reinstates Nigeria after Biden’s 2021 removal, with Trump threatening aid cuts and military action if violence persists.
President Bola Tinubu dismissed it as a mischaracterization of banditry.
1. Sanctions and Aid Freeze:
Trump could immediately slash Nigeria’s $1.2 billion annual U.S. aid, targeting security funds, while imposing visa bans and asset freezes on officials through pending bills like Sen. Ted Cruz’s Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act.
2. Diplomatic Escalation:
A mid-November Tinubu-Trump summit may demand blasphemy law repeals and prosecutions, with potential UN or ICC referrals to ramp up pressure, backed by a congressional probe due November 15.
3. Military Action:
Trump’s Pentagon directive signals possible drone strikes or special ops against Boko Haram/ISWAP—low-probability but unprecedented—fulfilling evangelical calls for intervention despite Nigeria’s sovereignty stance.
Waivers could preserve counter-terror aid if Nigeria prosecutes attackers, but none are signaled. The tag’s fallout risks fracturing ties, with outcomes hinging on the review’s close.