A new bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives is seeking to address alleged illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria, amid claims that proceeds from such activities may be linked to insecurity.
The proposed legislation, titled “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” calls on the US Secretary of State to collaborate with the Nigerian government to counter what it describes as “hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations.”
According to a report by TheCable, the bill was introduced on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers — Chris Smith, Riley Moore (the lead sponsor), Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga.
The lawmakers argue that the measure is aimed at strengthening religious freedom protections and addressing broader security challenges in Nigeria, including concerns surrounding foreign involvement in illegal mining activities.
Details of the legislative proposal indicate that it seeks to ensure greater accountability while encouraging diplomatic engagement between Washington and Abuja on issues of security and foreign exploitation of natural resources.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Nigerian government regarding the proposed US legislation.
