I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5808 
To require the Secretary of State to designate the Federal Republic of 
Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, to impose certain sanctions, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 21, 2025 
Mr. STUTZMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judi-
ciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 
case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of State to designate the Federal 
Republic of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, 
to impose certain sanctions, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nigeria Religious Free-
dom Accountability Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose the 
sanctions described in Executive Order 13818 (50 U.S.C. 
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1701 note; relating to blocking the property of persons 
involved in serious human rights abuse or corruption) on 
the persons identified in the report required under sub-
section (b). 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report listing 
Nigerian persons who are— 
(A) Federal officials or state governors 
who have, during the period specified in para-
graph (2)— 
(i) promoted, enacted, or maintained 
Nigerian 
blasphemy 
laws, 
including 
through public advocacy, legislative action, 
or executive enforcement directives; or 
(ii) tolerated violence by non-state ac-
tors invoking religious justifications to 
commit acts of violence, including persons 
designated as— 
(I) foreign terrorist organizations 
pursuant to section 219(a) of the Im-
migration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1189(a)); or 
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(II) specially designated global 
terrorists pursuant to Executive Order 
13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating 
to blocking property and prohibiting 
transactions with persons who com-
mit, threaten to commit, or support 
terrorism); or 
(B) judges, magistrates, prison officials, or 
other judicial or law enforcement authorities 
who have, during the period specified in para-
graph (2), enforced blasphemy laws, including 
through prosecution, conviction, imprisonment, 
or other deprivation of liberty of individuals 
pursuant to such laws. 
(2) PERIOD SPECIFIED.—The period specified 
in this paragraph is— 
(A) with respect to the first report re-
quired by paragraph (1), the period beginning 
10 years before the date of the enactment of 
this Act and ending on the date on which the 
report is submitted; and 
(B) with respect to each subsequent such 
report, the period beginning on the date on 
which the previous such report was submitted 
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and ending the date on which the new report is 
submitted. 
(3) FORM.—The report required by paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may 
include a classified annex, if appropriate. 
SEC. 3. DESIGNATIONS AND AMENDMENTS RELATED TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In reports required under section 
402(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act 
of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)(A)) and concurrent re-
views required under section 301(a) of the Frank R. Wolf 
International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 
6442a(a)), the Secretary of State shall designate, for en-
gaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious 
violations of religious freedom— 
(1) the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Coun-
try of Particular Concern (CPC); and 
(2) Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa as Enti-
ties of Particular Concern (EPC). 
(b) WAIVER AUTHORITY.— 
(1) CPC.—The Secretary of State may waive 
the requirement to impose a designation required 
under subsection (a)(1) if the Secretary transmits to 
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the appropriate congressional committees a deter-
mination that— 
(A) neither entity listed in subsection 
(a)(2) is currently operating in Nigeria; and 
(B) the Federal Government of Nigeria 
and all state governments in Nigeria are not 
currently enforcing blasphemy laws. 
(2) EPC.—The Secretary of State may waive 
the requirement to impose a designation required 
under subsection (a)(2) if the Secretary transmits to 
the appropriate committees a determination that the 
entity not being designated is not currently oper-
ating. 
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 605(a)(1) of 
the of International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 
U.S.C. 6473a) is amended by striking ‘‘freedom religion’’ 
and inserting ‘‘religious freedom’’. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate; and 
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(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives. 
(2) BOKO HARAM.—The term ‘‘Boko Haram’’ 
means Jama’tu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad. 
(3) ISIS-WEST AFRICA.—The term ‘‘ISIS-West 
Africa’’ means the Islamic State West Africa Prov-
ince. 
(4) NIGERIAN
BLASPHEMY
LAWS.—The term 
‘‘Nigerian blasphemy laws’’ refers to provisions in 
Nigeria’s criminal, penal, or Shari’a codes that crim-
inalize expression, behavior, or belief perceived as in-
sulting religion. 
(5) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an in-
dividual or entity. 
Æ 
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