The United States intensified its scrutiny of Nigeria’s human-rights and religious-freedom record as it held a public hearing on whether to redesignate the country as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

Speaking during the session on Thursday, Jacob McGee of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) at the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor recalled that Nigeria was first designated as a CPC on 31 October, 2025, under the Trump administration.

“President Trump took bold action and redesignated Nigeria as a CPC, which I believe has caught the attention of the Nigerian government. We are engaged in a high level of dialogue with them, including this week,” McGee said.

Thursday’s hearing is part of Washington’s ongoing review of alleged religious-freedom violations, insecurity, and governance challenges in Nigeria.

The CPC label is reserved for countries deemed to tolerate or perpetrate severe violations of religious freedom, a classification that can shape diplomatic engagement and foreign policy decisions.

U.S. officials say consultations with the Nigerian government will continue before arriving at a final determination.