By Erewunmi Peace

A proposed bill in the United States House of Representatives has targeted illegal Chinese mining operations in Nigeria, alleging that some of these operations may be involved in funding Fulani militias in parts of the country.

The legislation, known as the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced by several U.S. lawmakers. It calls on the Secretary of State to coordinate with the Nigerian government to address hostile foreign exploitation of the country’s mining sector.

“Certain illegal mining activities have been linked to financing armed groups, which poses a threat to regional security. This bill seeks to hold actors accountable,” the bill’s sponsors said.

The bill also aims to strengthen cooperation between the U.S. and Nigeria on security, peacebuilding, and protection of human rights.

However, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has rejected the allegations, describing claims that its nationals fund militias as “baseless” and warning against spreading misinformation.

It is important to note that the bill is still in proposal stage and has not yet been passed into law.

Analysts say the legislation highlights growing concerns in Washington about foreign influence in Nigeria’s natural resources and its potential link to insecurity.