The United States Department of State has announced a $3.5 million funding opportunity, estimated at nearly ₦5 billion, aimed at strengthening the documentation and reporting of religious freedom abuses in Nigeria.

The initiative was unveiled through the Office of International Religious Freedom under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, with applications now open to organisations capable of improving monitoring efforts related to attacks connected to religion and belief across the country.

According to the funding notice released on May 22, 2026, the programme is expected to run between 24 and 48 months, with one successful applicant likely to receive support through either a grant or cooperative agreement.

The U.S. government explained that the project is designed to improve accountability, advocacy and memorialisation efforts concerning religious freedom violations allegedly committed by both state and non-state actors in Nigeria.

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In the funding notice, the State Department pointed to growing concerns over violence linked to armed groups operating in Nigeria, including Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa and Fulani ethnic militias.

The document stated that attacks have affected both Christians and Muslims across different regions of the country, particularly in vulnerable communities.

According to the notice, human rights advocates, journalists, religious leaders, academics and survivors have already contributed to an evidence base showing what it described as “extreme levels of violence” carried out by armed groups against faith communities.

The U.S. government also criticised the response of Nigerian authorities to incidents involving attacks on civilians and places of worship.

The notice alleged that authorities often fail to respond effectively or promptly to violent attacks targeting faith communities, especially Christians, warning that such delays contribute to a cycle of impunity and recurring violence.

The document further claimed there were credible reports of Nigerian security personnel raiding places of worship while searching for suspected criminals, allegedly resulting in injuries to clergy members and worshippers.

Officials said the funding programme followed the decision by Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom issues.

According to the State Department, the designation drew international attention to longstanding concerns surrounding insecurity, violence and the protection of religious rights in Nigeria.

The Office of International Religious Freedom explained that successful proposals must focus on monitoring, documenting and reporting religious freedom violations while promoting accountability mechanisms for abuses committed by state and non-state actors.

Applicants are expected to identify at least four Nigerian states where project activities would be implemented, with priority attention expected in parts of the Middle Belt region, an area frequently affected by communal and religious violence.

The funding opportunity is open to U.S.-based and foreign non-profit organisations, public international organisations, academic institutions and for-profit entities, although preference will reportedly be given to non-profit groups.

Applications for the programme are scheduled to close on July 9, 2026.

The announcement comes at a time when concerns over insecurity, displacement and religious tensions continue to attract international attention toward Nigeria’s internal security and human rights challenges.