New US Bill Seeks Crackdown On Illegal Mining, Militia Funding In Nigeria
By ANITA KNIGHT
A group of Republican lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives has introduced a bill seeking closer collaboration between Washington and Abuja to address alleged links between illegal Chinese mining operations and militia violence in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was sponsored by Representatives Chris Smith, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart and Bill Huizenga.
According to the bill’s sponsors, some Chinese mining operators in Nigeria are accused of paying protection money to Fulani militias, a practice they claim is fueling insecurity in parts of the country.
The legislation directs the US Secretary of State to work with the Nigerian government to counter what it describes as “hostile foreign exploitation” tied to illegal mining activities. It also calls for technical support to help reduce militia-related violence, including disarmament initiatives and enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation.
Clauses within the bill mandate the Secretary of State to assess whether certain Fulani-ethnic militias should be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The proposal references a 2023 report by The Times, which alleged that Chinese nationals involved in Nigeria’s mining sector had indirectly funded militant groups in the northwest to secure access to mineral resources.
If passed, the bill would expand US engagement in Nigeria’s security and mining sectors, linking foreign mining practices to broader concerns about regional stability and terrorism.
