A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what he described as failure to meet conditions tied to U.S. security assistance to Nigeria.
Mr Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District, made the remarks in a post on X on Wednesday, urging the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to consider the issue in upcoming funding decisions.
“In my view, the Tinubu administration has failed to live up to the conditions the appropriations committee placed on security assistance,” Moore said.
“I urge @SecRubio to take this into account in administering both FY26 and FY27 funding.”
Security assistance under scrutiny
The funding referenced covers U.S. security support to Nigeria, including military training, equipment supply, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism cooperation aimed at addressing insurgency, banditry, and organised crime.
Such assistance is subject to oversight by the U.S. Congress typically comes with conditions, including adherence to human rights standards, transparency in fund utilisation, and measurable progress in tackling security challenges.
Mr Moore’s comments signal growing scrutiny in Washington over how Nigeria manages foreign-backed security programmes.
Previous allegations
The lawmaker had earlier raised concerns over insecurity in Nigeria, particularly violence affecting Christian communities.
“My brothers and sisters in Christ are murdered for practising their faith,” Moore said in a previous statement, questioning the effectiveness of U.S. support despite years of engagement.
He warned that failure to address the crisis could have broader security implications.
“If we do not address this… we would have to address it one way or the other,” he added.
Nigerian government response
The Federal Government has consistently rejected claims that insecurity in Nigeria amounts to targeted religious persecution, maintaining that violence affects both Christians and Muslims and is driven by broader criminal and insurgent activities.
The Defence Headquarters Nigeria also defended ongoing military cooperation with the United States, stating that such partnerships do not compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty.
According to the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, about 100 U.S. personnel and related equipment were deployed earlier in 2026 as part of bilateral efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to combat evolving security threats.
Funding implications
Moore emphasised that Nigeria’s compliance with the conditions attached to U.S. assistance will play a key role in determining future funding allocations.
His remarks come ahead of the U.S. fiscal years 2026 and 2027 budget cycles, during which Congress will decide on foreign aid spending, including security assistance to Nigeria.
The development raises the prospect of tighter oversight and possible adjustments to U.S. support programmes if concerns over compliance persist.
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