A new bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives is seeking closer collaboration between the United States and Nigeria to address what sponsors describe as the destabilizing effects of illegal Chinese mining activities in the country.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” was presented on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers: Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
The sponsors allege that certain Chinese mining companies operating in Nigeria have been paying protection money to Fulani militias, thereby fueling violence and insecurity in affected communities. According to the lawmakers, such practices have contributed to instability, particularly in parts of northern Nigeria where illegal mining and armed group activities have been reported.
Under the bill, the US Secretary of State would be mandated to work closely with the Government of Nigeria to counter what the lawmakers describe as hostile foreign exploitation linked to illegal mining operations. The proposed measures include providing technical support aimed at reducing and ultimately eliminating militia-related violence through disarmament initiatives and enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation.
“The Secretary of State should work with the Government of Nigeria to counteract the hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations and their destabilizing practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias,” the bill states.
In addition, the legislation calls for coordination with international partners such as France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom to promote religious freedom, peacebuilding efforts, and broader security cooperation in Nigeria.
The bill further directs the Secretary of State to determine whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias meet the criteria for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under US law.
Lawmakers referenced a 2023 report by The Times, which alleged that Chinese nationals involved in Nigeria’s mining sector were indirectly funding militant groups in the country’s northwest to secure access to mineral resources. The report claimed that some miners in Zamfara State acted as intermediaries for militant groups, raising concerns that Beijing could be indirectly financing terrorist activities in Africa’s largest economy.
The bill is expected to undergo committee consideration in the House before any potential vote.
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