US Senator Cruz Hails Trump's Nigeria Designation, Pushes for Deeper Sanctions
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Friday voiced strong approval for President Donald Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations. The President's announcement, delivered via social media, cited the mass slaughter of Christians by radical Islamists.
Senator Cruz, a vocal advocate for action against Christian persecution in Nigeria, issued a statement calling the designation a "critical step."
"I am deeply gratified to President Trump for making this determination," Senator Cruz said in his statement. He added that the designation is essential for "holding accountable and changing the behaviour of Nigerian officials" who have enabled a permissive environment for violence.
The move restores the CPC status Nigeria briefly held in 2020 before being removed in 2021 by the subsequent administration.
The Texas Senator emphasised that his proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S. 2747) is necessary to build upon the President's action. Senator Cruz introduced the bill in September to impose targeted sanctions that go beyond the initial CPC designation.
"My legislation implements additional steps, including targeting those who implement blasphemy and sharia laws in Nigeria," Cruz stated. The bill would require the President to impose financial and travel sanctions, such as asset freezes, on Nigerian officials found to have actively enforced blasphemy laws or tolerated violence by terrorist groups.
While the CPC designation authorises the U.S. government to consider punitive measures, it does not automatically trigger sanctions. Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV), who has led advocacy efforts, confirmed that President Trump has requested key lawmakers, including House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to "immediately look into" the matter.
Nigerian government reaction to the designation has been vehemently rejective, with Nigerian officials in the past rejecting similar claims and characterising the security crisis as complex rather than solely religious.
