US Congressman Riley Moore has opposed any move to remove Nigeria from Washington’s list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), citing continued violence in the Middle Belt.
Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, made the position known on Tuesday, August 18, amid renewed concern over deadly attacks in Plateau State.
His comments followed the second meeting of the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group on the CPC designation in Washington on August 12.
The talks, led by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, focused on protecting Christian communities, prosecuting perpetrators, strengthening security cooperation and addressing terrorism financing and the plight of internally displaced persons.
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Nigeria was first designated a CPC in December 2020 over what Washington described as severe religious-freedom violations.
The Biden administration removed the designation in November 2021, before President Donald Trump restored it on October 31, 2025.
Moore has consistently backed the designation. He joined a congressional delegation to Nigeria in December 2025 to assess religious-freedom concerns and later met Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang in February 2026 to discuss security and community protection.
Abuja has rejected claims that Nigeria’s insecurity is primarily religious, saying terrorism, banditry, communal violence and other criminal activities affect citizens across religious lines.
The latest dispute comes as Nigeria and the United States expand security cooperation while negotiating issues surrounding the CPC designation.