US envoy meets Odumegwu-Ojukwu on religion, security

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The United States Mission in Nigeria has disclosed that its Chargé d’Affaires, Keith Heffern, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to discuss bilateral relations and key areas of cooperation.

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The development was announced on Monday in a post on the official X handle of the US Mission Nigeria, which highlighted the focus of the high-level engagement.

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“Chargé d’Affaires Heffern met with Foreign Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu to discuss the strong US-Nigeria partnership as well as enhanced security cooperation,” the mission said.

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According to the statement, the meeting also addressed issues related to religious freedom and ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving concerns linked to Nigeria’s international designation.

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“The discussion underscored the importance of advancing religious freedom and building on progress through the Joint Working Group to address Nigeria’s Country of Particular Concern designation,” the mission added.

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Meanwhile, recent developments in the US Congress indicate a potential tightening of aid conditions for Nigeria.

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The House Appropriations Committee has advanced provisions in the proposed 2027 appropriations bill that would impose stricter oversight on funds allocated to the country.

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Under the proposal, up to 50 per cent of US assistance to Nigeria could be withheld until the Secretary of State confirms that the Federal Government is making meaningful progress in tackling insecurity, protecting vulnerable groups, and ensuring accountability for violence.

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The bill also introduces cost-sharing measures and ties funding to improvements in counterterrorism, human rights, and humanitarian efforts.

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Although the proposal still requires approval from the full Congress and the President, it reflects growing concern among US lawmakers over persistent violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks affecting Christian communities.

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FG has consistently rejected claims of religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens across all faiths and reaffirming its commitment to ongoing security collaboration with the US.

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In a related development, the mission reiterated that visa applicants, including Nigerians, are subject to continuous security vetting even after their visas have been approved.

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The clarification was made in a separate statement posted on Monday, as part of efforts to inform prospective travellers about US immigration procedures.

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Visa security vetting, the mission explained, is a continuous and multi-layered screening process used to evaluate an applicant’s background, including criminal history, potential terrorism risks, and other security concerns.

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It stressed that the process applies to all applicants, regardless of visa type or location.

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“All visa applicants, no matter the visa type and where they are located, are continuously vetted.

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“Security vetting runs from the time of each application, through adjudication of the visa, and afterwards during the validity period of every issued visa, to ensure the individual remains eligible to travel to the United States,” the statement read.

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