A coalition of Christian leaders, human rights advocates, academics and civil society groups under the aegis of Global Coalition for Freedom of Religion in Nigeria (GCFRN), has written an open letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, calling for urgent legislative action to address escalating religious-freedom violations that have now attracted intensified scrutiny from the United States Government.
The coalition said the urgency was heightened by the 2025 United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report, which again recommended Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for “egregious violations of religious freedom.” The group noted that US legislators, including Senator Ted Cruz, had introduced legislation to activate USCIRF’s recommendations.
The GCFRN warned that reports of a planned National Assembly delegation to Washington appeared misguided given the weight of documented abuses.
The letter dated November 3, 2025 cautioned that the visit could “open itself to ridicule because they (delegation) would be confronted with documented facts and data, which they will not be able to refute”.
The group added that such an encounter could “simply be proof… that the Nigerian government, at best, is too weak to confront the situation and or is even complicit.”
The coalition cited USCIRF findings on blasphemy laws, Sharia codes affecting non-Muslims, closure of schools during Ramadan, targeted attacks on pastors, and persistent abductions.
The group argued that “the challenges Christians face in Nigeria are essentially a Northern Nigerian problem,” linked to historical restrictions on Christian presence, discriminatory policies in Sharia states, and systemic marginalisation.
The letter detailed a wide range of alleged abuses, denial of access to land for churches, demolition of church buildings, refusal of certificates of occupancy, restrictions on Christian worship on campuses, and discriminatory recruitment into security services.
It also cited multiple unresolved episodes of mob violence and alleged government failures to prosecute offenders.
The GCFRN also referenced cases including the killings of Deborah Emmanuel in Sokoto and Eunice Olawale in Abuja, the destruction of “764 churches in 48 hours” during the 2011 post-election violence in 12 states, and what it called a “climate of impunity.”
The group criticised the current administration for operating a “Muslim-Muslim presidency” and expressed concern over the closure of the Aso Rock chapel.
They also highlighted alleged forced conversions and abductions, including the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu and the unresolved cases of many Chibok girls, asserting that government response to these tragedies had been “nothing but reprehensible.”
The letter urged the National Assembly to: “Open investigations into alleged violations of rights of Christians.
“Outlaw of blasphemy nationwide and void state-level blasphemy laws.
“Ensure federal institutions allocate land for Christian chapels where mosques already exist.
“Create a National Board for Christian Religious Studies (NBCRS) with funding equal to the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), or abolish NBAIS for fairness.
“Enact laws prohibiting compulsory Islamic Religious Studies in Christian or mission schools.
“Prevent forced religious observance such as compulsory fasting during Ramadan.
“Outlaw Hisbah, Sharia Commissions and other religious-policing structures implicated in abuses.
“Reclaim all communities seized by insurgents in Plateau, Kaduna, Benue and beyond.
“Address the cases of Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok girls with urgency”.
The group further called for the amendment of the Human Rights Commission Act to include a department on religious-rights violations as well as hold public hearings on the state of religious freedom.
The letter noted that the legislature had investigated “unfounded” foreign allegations but not mounting international findings on persecution.
The letter was signed by: Emmanuel Ogebe, Justice for Jos Project, Washington, USA; Hon. Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum, Middle Belt Dialogue; Dr. Sam Amadi, Coordinator, Christian Network for Justice and Community, Abuja;
Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam President/CEO, Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, Jos; and Rev. Polycarp Gbaja, CEO, Stride Leadership Foundation, Abuja.
Others are, Prof. Emmanuel Emenyonu, Africa United for Peace, USA; Rev. Yunusa S. Nmadu Jnr, CEO, Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria; Kaduna; Mark Lipdo, Programme Coordinator, Stefanos Foundation, Jos; Rev. Jeremiah Gado, former President, Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA); and Abdallah J.M. Baikie, Director, International Organisation for Peacebuilding & Social Justice, Jos.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and multiple US Senators and Congressmen.
The GCFRN thanked the presiding officers for their “continued leadership in upholding the Constitution… which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion for all citizens.”
