The Senate has constituted a 12-member ad-hoc committee to advise the legislature on how to respond to growing international concerns over alleged state-backed persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The decision was reached during a closed-door session on Tuesday, October 14, where lawmakers deliberated on recent claims by the United States Government suggesting possible acts of genocide targeting Christians in parts of the country.
The move comes amid rising diplomatic scrutiny and fears that such allegations could harm Nigeria’s international reputation and interfaith harmony.
Members of the committee include Senators Victor Umeh, Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, Niyi Adegbonmire, Abdul Ningi, Titus Zam, Tony Nwoye, Tahir Munguno, and Asuquo Ekpenyong.
The committee has been tasked with drafting a comprehensive position paper for presentation to both the Executive and the Senate. The document is expected to outline Nigeria’s official legislative stance on the matter and serve as a guide in ongoing international engagements.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who announced the committee’s formation, stressed that the position paper must be grounded in verifiable facts and data to effectively counter misleading reports.
Earlier, the upper chamber resolved to engage the United States Congress to address and challenge what it described as “false and damaging narratives” portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a Christian genocide.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Ali Ndume, which led to an extensive debate on how international misrepresentations of Nigeria’s internal security situation were affecting the country’s image and economy.
Lawmakers agreed that while some concerns may stem from genuine humanitarian advocacy, many narratives presented abroad fail to reflect the reality that terrorism and violence in Nigeria affect both Christians and Muslims.
Akpabio also proposed that a smaller Senate delegation be constituted to visit the United States and directly engage with American lawmakers to provide clarity and context.
“There are misconceptions that need to be corrected,” Akpabio said. “We are dealing with a complex terrorist threat, and it’s important that our counterparts in the US understand that the violence affects both Christians and Muslims.”
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim emphasised that Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy should be guided by knowledge-based and evidence-driven approaches, to ensure credibility in both local and international engagements.
