Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – A United States congressman has called for closer scrutiny of security assistance to Nigeria, citing concerns that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has not met key conditions tied to the funding.
Riley Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District, on Wednesday urged Marco Rubio to factor the issue into decisions on upcoming foreign assistance allocations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
“In my view, the Tinubu administration has failed to live up to the conditions… placed on security assistance,” Moore said in a statement.
US security support to Nigeria typically includes military training, intelligence sharing and equipment provision aimed at combating insurgency, banditry and organised crime.
Such assistance is subject to congressional approval and often tied to benchmarks on human rights, accountability and measurable security progress.
Moore has previously criticised Nigeria’s handling of insecurity, particularly violence affecting religious communities, arguing that continued instability raises questions about the effectiveness of US-backed interventions.
However, Nigerian authorities have rejected claims of targeted religious persecution, maintaining that the country’s security challenges are complex and affect multiple groups.
The Defence Headquarters Nigeria has also defended military cooperation with the United States, stating that joint engagements strengthen operational capacity without compromising national sovereignty.
Earlier this year, Nigerian officials confirmed the arrival of about 100 US personnel as part of bilateral security collaboration.
Moore’s latest remarks signal potential increased congressional oversight, with future funding likely to depend on Nigeria’s ability to meet established conditions.
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Korede Abdullah 
