Tinubu spending on US lobbyists instead of addressing ‘Christian genocide’ – Senator Ted Cruz

US Senator Ted Cruz has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of spending millions on American lobbyists to deflect criticism rather than addressing what he describes as the persecution and killing of Christians in Nigeria, as he continues pushing a sanctions bill targeting Nigerian officials he holds responsible.

Ted Cruz is not letting up on Nigeria — and this time, his accusations carry a price tag.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the US senator accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of channelling resources into a public relations campaign against critics instead of responding to American concerns about the killing of Christians in Nigeria. “Instead of responding to American concerns, Nigerian officials waged a public relations campaign against critics,” Cruz said bluntly.

As reported by Peoples Gazette, Cruz’s remarks come against the backdrop of The Gazette’s January 14 report that the Tinubu administration spent $9 million on a Republican lobbyist to soften Washington’s posture — particularly to manage President Donald Trump’s threats to confront terrorists allegedly targeting Nigerian Christians.

Cruz was unsparing in his assessment of the Nigerian government’s culpability. “Nigerian officials have created an environment that facilitated mass violence against Christians and religious minorities by imposing blasphemy and Sharia laws and looking the other way at jihadist atrocities,” he stated. He added that the US government already knows which Nigerian officials are responsible and that he has been pushing his proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, 2025 to sanction them.

Cruz also expressed approval of Trump’s response to the Nigeria situation, noting: “President Trump has even ordered military action.”

The legislative pressure is mounting on multiple fronts. In February, House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee Chair Chris Smith and Representative Riley Moore submitted a companion measure — the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 — to the US House of Representatives, proposing visa bans and asset freezes against identified individuals and groups.

Presidential spokespersons Bayo Onanuga, Sunday Dare and Daniel Bwala did not respond to Peoples Gazette’s requests for comment on Cruz’s latest allegations.