The Nigerian Senate has formed a 12-member ad-hoc committee to craft a legislative response to international accusations of state-sponsored persecution of Christians, particularly following recent remarks by the United States government hinting at possible acts of genocide in parts of the country.
The decision was reached during a closed-door session on Tuesday, where senators debated the implications of the U.S. claims and the potential damage to Nigeria’s global image and interfaith harmony.
Announcing the formation of the committee, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the move was necessary to provide an informed and factual account of Nigeria’s security realities.
“We cannot allow distorted narratives to shape international opinion about our country,” Akpabio stated.
“The committee will present verifiable facts that reflect the truth, that Nigeria’s security challenges affect people of all faiths.”
The committee, which includes senators Victor Umeh, Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, Niyi Adegbonmire, Abdul Ningi, Titus Zam, Tony Nwoye, Tahir Munguno, and Asuquo Ekpenyong, has been tasked with producing a comprehensive position paper.
The document will be presented to both the National Assembly and the Presidency, and serve as Nigeria’s official response in diplomatic engagements.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Senator Ali Ndume, which drew attention to what he described as the “dangerous mischaracterisation” of Nigeria’s internal conflicts by some foreign observers.
Ndume argued that while insecurity remains a serious national issue, labelling it as religious persecution is “not only inaccurate but potentially destabilising.”
Lawmakers also agreed that the Senate should open dialogue with members of the U.S. Congress to directly address and correct these perceptions.
Akpabio proposed sending a smaller delegation of senators to Washington for private meetings with American legislators to explain Nigeria’s counterterrorism context.
“The fight against terrorism in Nigeria has never been about religion,” Akpabio emphasised. “Both Christians and Muslims have suffered losses, and the world must understand that this is a fight against extremism, not faith.”
Contributing to the debate, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim urged the government to adopt a more research-driven approach to counterterrorism, saying that effective strategies must be built on data, intelligence, and community cooperation rather than rhetoric.
AFRIPOST reports that the Senate’s move signals Nigeria’s increasing sensitivity to how it is portrayed abroad, particularly as global human rights groups and Western governments intensify scrutiny over religious freedoms.
The committee is expected to submit its report in the coming weeks, providing a framework for Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and setting the tone for interfaith dialogue on the global stage.