The Senate has constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee to advise on how to respond to growing international concerns over alleged state-backed persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The decision was taken during a closed-door session on Tuesday, where lawmakers deliberated on recent claims by the United States Government suggesting possible acts of genocide targeting Christians in parts of the country.
The Senate’s action follows mounting diplomatic scrutiny and the potential implications of such allegations for Nigeria’s international reputation and interfaith relations.
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 tasked with developing a comprehensive position paper for presentation to both the Executive and the Senate.
The document is expected to define Nigeria’s legislative stance on the matter and guide the country’s engagement in ongoing international discussions.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who announced the committee, stressed that the position paper must be based on verifiable facts and statistics.
Earlier, the upper chamber resolved to engage with the United States Congress to address and counter what it described as misleading narratives portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a Christian genocide.
The resolution followed a motion raised by Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) last week, which sparked a broader debate among lawmakers on the international perception of Nigeria’s internal security situation.
During the debate, senators expressed concern that such narratives, though often arising from genuine concern, grossly misinform international partners and damage Nigeria’s global image and economy.
Akpabio proposed the establishment of an ad hoc committee to visit the United States and directly engage with American lawmakers to clarify the situation.
He further suggested private discussions, recommending a closed-door session and a smaller delegation for the engagement.
“There are misconceptions that need to be corrected. 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,” Akpabio added.
