The Senate has established a 12-member ad hoc committee to recommend appropriate responses to escalating international concerns about alleged state-sponsored persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The resolution emerged from a closed-door session on Tuesday, during which lawmakers discussed recent allegations by the United States Government pointing to possible acts of genocide against Christians in certain parts of the country.
The move comes amid increasing diplomatic scrutiny and concerns over the potential impact of such claims on Nigeria’s global image and interfaith harmony.
Members of the committee include Senators Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Niyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), Titus Zam (Benue North East), Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Tahir Monguno (Borno North), and Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).
The committee has been mandated to prepare a comprehensive position paper for submission to both the Executive and the Senate. The document is expected to articulate the legislature’s stance on the issue and shape Nigeria’s participation in ongoing international engagements.
Announcing the committee, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized that the report must be grounded in verified data and factual evidence.
Earlier, the Senate resolved to open dialogue with the United States Congress to counter what it described as misleading narratives framing Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted genocide against Christians.
The decision stemmed from a motion raised last week by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), which prompted an extensive debate among lawmakers on the portrayal of Nigeria’s internal security situation in international circles.
During the deliberations, several senators voiced concern that such narratives—though often driven by humanitarian concern—distort the reality on the ground and harm Nigeria’s global image and economic interests.
Akpabio proposed the creation of an ad hoc committee to visit the United States and engage directly with American legislators to provide clarity on the situation. He also recommended that these discussions take place privately, involving a smaller delegation.
“There are misconceptions that must be corrected,” Akpabio said. “We are confronting a complex terrorist threat, and it is essential for our counterparts in the U.S. to understand that the violence affects both Christians and Muslims alike.”
