A $3.5 million (about N5 billion) funding opportunity has been announced by the US Department of State with the goal of enhancing the reporting and documenting of violations of religious freedom in Nigeria. The program, which was introduced by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor's Office of International Religious Freedom, is looking for submissions from organizations that can improve reporting on attacks related to religion and belief nationwide.
The initiative will run for 24 to 48 months, with one award expected via a grant or cooperation agreement, according to the notice of funding opportunity published on May 22, 2026. According to the State Department, the project's goal was to improve monitoring and documentation of abuses carried out in Nigeria by both state and non-state actors.
The notice read, "The Office of International Religious Freedom announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that improve documentation and reporting efforts on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria, for accountability, advocacy, and memorialization."
Both Christians and Muslims have been impacted by attacks, according to the dossier, which mentioned violence connected to Boko Haram, Fulani ethnic militias, and other armed groups.
According to the notice, "documenters, human rights and religious freedom advocates, religious leaders and community members, academics, journalists, and survivors have contributed to an evidence base that illustrates the extreme levels of violence perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, Fulani ethnic militias, and other armed actors against Christians and Muslims."
Additionally, the US government criticized Nigerian authorities for what it said were insufficient reactions to attacks on religious communities.
According to the study, "civil society reports indicate that authorities routinely fail to respond in a timely or effective manner to violent attacks against civilians and faith communities, particularly attacks against Christians."
"This leads to widespread impunity for violence, which encourages more violence, leading to further abuses and displacements," the statement continued.
The letter further claimed that certain security guards had raided houses of worship in an effort to apprehend possible criminals.
It stated, "There are also credible reports of Nigerian security personnel raiding places of worship and injuring clergy and congregants in search of alleged criminals."
According to the State Department, the funding endeavor came after President Donald Trump declared Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" due to problems with religious freedom.
According to the statement, "President Trump's decision to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern placed a spotlight on the severity of these longstanding and worsening problems."
Proposals made under the initiative, according to the IRF, should focus on "monitoring, documenting, and reporting of such abuses committed by either state or non-state actors in Nigeria" to increase accountability for violations.
It is required of applicants to indicate at least four states where initiatives would be implemented and to prioritize operations in the Middle Belt.
Although the government stated that it preferred collaborating with non-profit organizations, the funding opportunity is available to public international organizations, higher education institutions, foreign and US-based non-profit organizations, and for-profit businesses.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2026, Eastern Time.
In November 2025, Trump declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern due to reported Christian persecution.
The Federal Government, however, has denied claims of religious persecution, arguing that all citizens, regardless of faith, were impacted by insecurity. It has also stated that it will continue to work with the US on security and counterterrorism initiatives.
