United States Senator Ted Cruz has accused Nigerian officials of responding to international concerns over alleged persecution of Christians and religious minorities with a public relations campaign rather than addressing the underlying security and religious freedom issues.
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Cruz made the allegation in a post on his verified X account on Wednesday while reacting to recent developments surrounding U.S. congressional action on Nigeria.
The Republican lawmaker alleged that Nigerian officials had created conditions that enable mass violence against Christians and other religious minorities through the enforcement of blasphemy and Sharia laws, as well as alleged failure to act against jihadist atrocities.
“Nigerian officials have created an environment that facilitates mass violence against Christians and religious minorities by imposing blasphemy and Sharia laws and looking the other way at jihadist atrocities,” Cruz wrote.
He further claimed that the United States government knows the Nigerian officials responsible for the alleged policies, adding that he had been pushing legislation to sanction them.
“The U.S. government knows the Nigerian officials responsible for these policies. I have been pushing my bill to sanction them, and President Trump has even ordered military action,” he stated.
Cruz also alleged that rather than responding directly to concerns raised in the United States, Nigerian authorities chose to mount a communications campaign against critics.
“Instead of responding to American concerns, Nigerian officials waged a public relations campaign against critics,” he wrote.
“They were confident in that campaign and in their ability to continue the status quo, and I am heartened that the House has just definitively proven them wrong,” he added.
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied allegations that it condones, sponsors or enables religious persecution, insisting that insecurity in the country affects citizens across religious and ethnic lines.
The latest comments by Cruz come amid reports that the Federal Government hired a United States lobbying firm under a $9 million contract to strengthen Nigeria’s engagement with U.S. officials over allegations of attacks on Christian communities.
The Federal Government’s expenditure tracking platform, GovSpend, also reportedly showed that the Presidency spent ₦500 million in 2025 on what was described as an emergency strategic communications campaign.
The payment record stated that the funds were released to the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications for “emergency Strategic Communications and Global Media Engagement to counter coordinated Western propaganda against FGN on alleged Christian persecution.”
The spending was said to be part of a broader government effort to respond to growing international criticism over insecurity and allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria.
Documents filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act reportedly showed that the lobbying firm was retained through Aster Legal on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the agreement, DCI Group was contracted to help communicate Nigeria’s efforts to protect Christian communities and maintain U.S. support for countering jihadist groups and other destabilising elements in West Africa.
The contract reportedly provides for monthly payments of $750,000, with an initial $4.5 million six-month retainer.
Nigeria has faced increasing international scrutiny over attacks by insurgents, bandits and other armed groups, particularly in communities affected by insecurity in the North and Middle Belt.
Cruz has remained one of the most vocal members of the U.S. Congress calling for tougher action against Nigerian officials over alleged violations of religious freedom.
The Nigerian government, however, has continued to reject claims of targeted persecution, maintaining that it is committed to protecting all Nigerians and combating terrorism, banditry and communal violence across the country.
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