By Barth Ozah
December 7, 2025
A United States Congressional delegation has arrived in Nigeria on a fact-finding mission amid growing international concern over insecurity and allegations of genocide against Christians — issues that recently led to the re-designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The visit comes shortly after high-level meetings between Nigerian government officials and U.S. lawmakers in Washington, D.C., where both sides reviewed shared security priorities.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, announced the delegation’s arrival on his official Facebook page on Sunday afternoon. According to him, the U.S. lawmakers held extensive discussions with Nigerian security authorities on counter-terrorism collaboration, regional stability, and strengthening bilateral security ties.
Ribadu, who received the delegation in Abuja on Sunday morning, expressed optimism that the engagement would further reinforce cooperation between both nations.
“This morning, I received a U.S. Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., on shared security priorities,” he wrote.
Members of the delegation include Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Scott Franklin, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. Riley M. Moore.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, was also present during the meeting, underscoring Washington’s heightened attention to Nigeria’s security landscape.
Ribadu added that the discussions were focused on ensuring deeper trust and advancing the collective commitment of both countries to lasting peace and security.
The fact-finding mission signals renewed U.S. scrutiny of Nigeria’s human rights and security situation, especially amid persistent attacks by terror groups and worsening communal violence in several parts of the country.
