US congressman Riley Moore has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government for failing to meet the criteria of US security assistance to Nigeria.
Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd District, expressed his concern in a post on X on Wednesday, urging US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider the change when managing subsequent funding cycles.
“In my view, the Tinubu administration has failed to live up to the conditions the appropriations committee placed on security assistance.
“I urge @SecRubio to take this into account in administering both FY26 and FY27 funding,” he wrote.
The terms FY26 and FY27 refer to fiscal years in the United States that span from October 1 to September 30 and encompass the following budget cycles during which Congress allocates funds for international assistance.
The budget under consideration includes US security aid to Nigeria, such as military training, equipment supply, intelligence collaboration, and counter-terrorism assistance, to combat challenges such as insurgency, banditry, and organized crime.
Such assistance is subject to US congressional approval and is frequently conditional on meeting human rights standards, being accountable in the use of funds, and making verifiable progress in resolving security issues.
Moore’s current statements follow previous criticisms of the Nigerian government for insecurity, notably violence against Christian communities.
In November 2025 the lawmaker accused the federal government of failing to justify billions of dollars in military assistance received from Washington while alleging continued killings of Christians.
“My brothers and sisters in Christ are murdered for practicing their faith and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ,” Moore said at the time, warning that prolonged inaction could worsen the situation.
He also argued that despite years of support from the United States, including provision of training and equipment, the crisis had persisted without sufficient response from Nigerian authorities.
“If we do not address this and some terrorists take hold in Nigeria, we would have to address it one way or the other. I would like to do it cooperatively with Nigerians,” he said.
However, the federal government has denied that the country’s security challenges are the result of targeted religious persecution, claiming that violence affects both Christians and Muslims and is motivated by broader security concerns.
Earlier this year, the Defense Headquarters declared that military cooperation with the United States does not jeopardize Nigeria’s sovereignty and comes at no cost to the country.
The military confirmed the presence of approximately 100 US personnel and associated equipment in February, stating that the deployment followed bilateral discussions between Nigerian and American officials.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, Director of Defense Information, stated that the collaboration was part of measures to boost Nigeria’s ability to confront evolving security challenges.
Despite these guarantees, Moore reiterated that how Nigeria satisfies the terms of US assistance will impact future funding decisions, indicating that support programs may face increasing scrutiny in the next fiscal years.
