Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025

Summary

Requires the U.S. State Department to produce an initial report (within 90 days) and annual reports identifying Nigerian individuals and entities that have enforced blasphemy laws or tolerated religiously justified violence, and directs the President to impose sanctions on persons named under the authority of existing executive orders. It also directs automatic U.S. designations: the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom abuses and Boko Haram and ISIS–West Africa as Entities of Particular Concern, while allowing limited waiver authority if specific conditions are certified to Congress.

• Requires State Department reports (initial within 90 days, then annually) identifying Nigerian officials/entities that enforce blasphemy laws or tolerate religiously justified violence.
• Directs the President to impose sanctions under existing executive authorities on persons named in the State Department reports.
• Mandates designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations unless a narrow waiver is certified.
• Mandates designation of Boko Haram and ISIS–West Africa as Entities of Particular Concern (EPCs), with a limited waiver if an entity is not operating.
• Defines key terms (e.g., "Nigerian blasphemy laws," organization names) and names the congressional committees that will receive reports.
• First reporting period covers the prior 10 years through the date of the first report; subsequent reports cover the interval since the last report.
• Does not create new funding or new sanction authorities but directs use of existing executive orders and statutory authorities.
• Provides the Secretary discretionary waiver authority only if specific factual determinations are transmitted to Congress.