By Racheal Najin Babatunde
The Nigeria-US Parliamentary Friendship Group in the House of Representatives has cautioned the United States against listing Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), stating that such a designation could harm Nigeria’s ability to combat crime and hinder international partnerships.
The warning was issued during a six-day diplomatic mission to the United States, where the delegation, led by Hon. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, engaged top U.S. lawmakers including Congressman Christopher Smith. The group used the meetings to appeal against any move to categorize Nigeria under CPC status, which is often reserved for countries accused of severe religious freedom violations.
Onuakalusi explained that the nation’s security challenges are not rooted in religious persecution but are largely due to criminal activity and a regional proliferation of arms, especially following the Arab Spring.
“Placing Nigeria on the CPC list could hinder us from accessing technology and international support needed to combat crime effectively,” Onuakalusi stated at a meeting held at the Nigerian House in New York.
In addition to the CPC issue, Onuakalusi reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding ambition to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He pointed to the country’s active role in global peacekeeping and its youthful, dynamic population as key arguments for inclusion.
“We are no longer interested in aids, but business investments,” he added, noting Nigeria’s shift from aid dependency to strategic business partnerships.
Hon. Dabo Ismail Haruna, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Protection of Critical National Assets, echoed the concerns, highlighting that some negative reports from Nigerians abroad were shaping the U.S. Congress’s perception of the country.
“We have appealed directly to U.S. lawmakers, including the Minority Leader and key committee chairs, urging that Nigeria not be added to the CPC list,” Haruna said, advocating for continued and deeper parliamentary engagement between both nations. “We will provide genuine information to strengthen our relationship with them.”
Speaking also, Ambassador Syndoph Endoni of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN challenged the perception that Africa lacks mechanisms for peacemaking, emphasizing the roles played by the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS in regional stability.
Endoni further stressed the need for Nigeria to have a permanent voice at the UN to defend and project its national interests. The delegation also decried Nigeria’s absence as chair of the UN’s C34 peacekeeping committee for two years, warning that such lapses undermine its credibility and aspirations for Security Council membership.
The Nigerian delegation also held discussions with UN Deputy Secretary-General, Mrs. Amina Jane Mohammed, where they stressed the importance of nation-to-nation partnerships through existing UN agencies
Other key figures in the delegation included House Minority Leader Rt. Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who represented Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, South South Caucus Leader Rt. Hon. Fred Agbedi, and other distinguished parliamentarians. The lawmakers described their meeting with Mrs. Amina Mohammed and other diplomatic consultants as “fruitful” and part of a broader effort to reposition Nigeria as a collaborative force in global politics.
The delegation concluded their New York engagements and departed from LaGuardia Airport to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the next phase of their diplomatic outreach. However the delegation revealed that more updates are expected as their mission unfolds.
