The United States Department of State has announced a $3.5 million (about N5 billion) funding opportunity aimed at improving the documentation and reporting of religious freedom abuses in Nigeria.
The initiative, launched by the Office of International Religious Freedom under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, seeks applications from organisations capable of strengthening monitoring and reporting of religion-related violence across the country.
According to a notice of funding opportunity released on May 22, 2026, the project will run for between 24 and 48 months, with one award expected to be issued through either a grant or cooperative agreement.
The State Department said the programme is designed to enhance efforts to document abuses carried out by both state and non-state actors in Nigeria.
“The Office of International Religious Freedom announces an open competition for organisations interested in submitting applications for projects that improve documentation and reporting efforts on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria, for accountability, advocacy, and memorialisation,” the statement read.
The document referenced violent activities linked to Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, Fulani ethnic militias, and other armed groups, noting that both Christians and Muslims have been affected.
It added that human rights advocates, religious leaders, journalists, academics, and survivors have contributed to evidence highlighting widespread violence across affected communities.
The US government also criticised what it described as inadequate responses by Nigerian authorities to such attacks, alleging delays and inefficiencies in protecting vulnerable communities.
“Civil society reports indicate that authorities regularly fail to respond in a timely or effective manner to violent attacks against civilians and faith communities,” the document stated.
It further alleged incidents where Nigerian security personnel reportedly raided places of worship during operations targeting suspected criminals.
The funding initiative follows the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom concerns under former President Donald Trump in November 2025.
However, the Federal Government has rejected claims of religious persecution, insisting that insecurity affects all citizens regardless of faith, while maintaining ongoing cooperation with the United States on counterterrorism and security reforms.
Applications for the programme are expected to close on July 9, 2026.