United States lawmakers revisited concerns of religious freedom in Nigeria during a hearing on the topic on Wednesday in Washington DC.
The hearing examined countries worldwide where the lawmakers
say religious freedom is under threat, a characterisation Nigerian authorities
have rejected.
Citing Genocide Watch, Chris Smith, House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee chairman, described Nigeria as “a killing field of
defenceless Christians”.
“That wrong in our foreign policy has been righted with the
President’s CPC designation. We commend and thank him for that action,” Smith
said.
While the lawmaker commended Nigeria for taking “small
steps” to improve religious freedom, he criticised the recent lobbying deals
aimed at influencing the US government.
In December, Nigeria hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a
$9 million contract to assist in communicating its efforts to protect
Christians to the US government.
The same month, Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita
Security Services, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-based
lobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship”
between the US and Nigeria.
Smith said the deals proved that “a culture of denial by
Nigerian officials persists”.
“I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Street
lobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that’s $750,000 a month) and a
Nigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcour
to influence Congress and the Executive Branch,” he said.
“They hire these firms; they come up with their very
well-written talking points to say nothing to see here, and unfortunately, how
these firms are just so good at advocating for their client for religious
freedom.”
Joaquin Castro, a lawmaker, questioned the effectiveness of
the US strikes in Nigeria last year.
He accused the President Donald Trump administration of
striking using a front of “protecting Christians” yet “cutting assistance that
would actually address discrimination against religious communities”.
The lawmakers also debated Nigeria’s CPC redesignation, with
some describing it as largely “name and shame” without direct consequences,
while others said it helped refocus “attention on Nigeria”.
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