Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, could face visa ban and asset freezes after he was named in a proposed U.S. legislation seeking to impose sanctions on Nigerian individuals and entities accused of violating religious freedoms, signalling a potential escalation in diplomatic pressure on Africa’s largest economy.
The bill, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced on Tuesday by Congressman Riley Moore (Republican–West Virginia) and co-sponsored by Representative Chris Smith (Republican–New Jersey).
Under the proposed legislation, Kwankwaso could face targeted sanctions, including visa restrictions and asset freezes, pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
The bill also mentions Fulani-ethnic nomadic militias and organisations such as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.
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In addition, the legislation directed the US Secretary of State to assess whether certain Fulani militias met the legal threshold for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organisations under American law.
Beyond punitive measures, the bill proposes expanded humanitarian assistance to communities affected by violence, particularly in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. It recommends that such aid be jointly funded by the United States and the Nigerian government and delivered through credible faith-based and non-governmental organisations operating in the region.
Speaking on the proposed legislation, Moore said the move builds on previous US actions addressing concerns over religious freedom in Nigeria. These include Nigeria’s earlier designation as a “Country of Particular Concern” and ongoing bilateral security cooperation between Washington and Abuja.
The development comes amid renewed international scrutiny of Nigeria’s protracted security challenges, especially violent clashes affecting communities in the Middle Belt and parts of the northern region.
While US lawmakers have framed the bill as an effort to promote accountability and protect vulnerable communities, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected assertions that the country’s conflicts are solely religious in nature. Authorities maintain that the violence is driven by a complex mix of factors, including criminality, land disputes, and communal tensions.
The bill is currently at the proposal stage and will require passage by both chambers of the US Congress before it can be signed into law.
