Speaking in Washington on Wednesday, Senator Cruz praised
President Donald Trump for reinstating Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of
Particular Concern” (CPC), a classification used by the U.S. State Department
to identify nations accused of severe violations of religious freedom.

The designation, which had been removed under President Joe
Biden, was restored last week following growing pressure from religious freedom
advocates and conservative lawmakers in the U.S.

Cruz, a long-time critic of the Biden administration’s
foreign policy on religious rights, said the previous government “turned a
blind eye” to what he described as the mass killing of Christians by extremist
groups in northern Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, Joe Biden came into office and immediately
removed Nigeria from the list,” Cruz said.

“He lifted pressure, ended sanctions, and looked away while
radical terrorists continued slaughtering Christians.”

He added that President Trump’s renewed action was both
“necessary and moral.”

“When President Trump was re-elected, I led efforts urging
him to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. Last Friday, he
did, and it was absolutely the right thing to do.”

Senator Cruz revealed he has introduced new legislation that
seeks to impose visa bans, asset freezes, and financial restrictions on
Nigerian officials and state governments accused of enforcing laws that
infringe on religious freedom.

“I’ve introduced a bill that would sanction those
responsible for facilitating or condoning these mass atrocities,” he said.

“Twelve Nigerian states enforce Sharia law and blasphemy
laws. These are being used to persecute Christians, and the officials involved
are complicit.”

Cruz urged the White House to use America’s “full range of
sanctioning tools” to pressure the Nigerian authorities to halt religious
persecution.

“These actions are not about punishing Nigeria, they’re
about incentivizing change and protecting innocent lives,” he said.

The renewed push for sanctions follows President Trump’s
recent comments warning that the U.S. “will not stand by while Christians are
being killed” in Nigeria.

In a statement released by the White House, Trump reaffirmed
that Nigeria has officially been placed on the CPC list and warned that
Washington could cut aid or take military action if the violence continues.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria,”
Trump said. “Thousands are being killed by radical Islamists. The United States
will not tolerate these atrocities.”

He also called on congressional leaders, including Rep.
Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, to immediately review U.S.
aid to Nigeria and report back with recommendations.

“The U.S. is willing and able to defend religious
minorities. The killing of Christians will not continue under our watch,” Trump
added.

The Nigerian government has dismissed the U.S. allegations,
saying they are based on misinformation and political bias. Officials in Abuja
insist that ongoing violence in parts of the country stems from criminality,
ethnic clashes, and banditry, not religious persecution.

“The Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion
and protects all faiths,” a government spokesperson said earlier. “The
suggestion that there is a campaign of Christian genocide is both inaccurate
and unfair.”

Nigeria was first designated as a Country of Particular
Concern in 2020 during President Trump’s first term, due to reports of rising
attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The designation was removed under President Biden in 2021
amid diplomatic engagements with Abuja.

Human rights groups and international observers have
continued to warn of deteriorating security conditions in northern Nigeria,
where thousands have been killed or displaced in attacks by armed groups.

Cruz’s proposed sanctions, if enacted, could mark one of the
most significant escalations in U.S.-Nigeria relations in years.