The recent widely-reported terrorist killings and 2013 kidnapping of school girls in Nigeria, the Nigerian government’s efforts to fight the notorious terror group Boko Haram and upcoming elections next month will be among topics of a House hearing set for Tuesday, Jan. 27 by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee. Smith, who has traveled to Nigeria twice in the past 18 months, will chair the hearing.

WHAT: Congressional hearing entitled “Nigeria on the Brink?”

WHO: Smith, members of the Subcommittee on Africa and global human rights, and witnesses from the U.S. State Dept. and non-government organizations (NGOs):

• Robert P. Jackson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State
• J. Peter Pham, Ph.D., Director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council
• Jadegoke Adebonajo Badejo, Principal Partner, Bonajo Badejo & Co.
• Emmanuel Ogebe, of the Justice for Jos Project, Jubilee Campaign USA
• Dr. Chris Fomunyoh, Ph.D., Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa, National Democratic Institute

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Room 2200 in the Rayburn House Office Building (second floor).

    Smith held hearings on Nigeria in June and July of 2014. The congressman visited the country in September 2013 and June 2014, and was the sponsor of the ‘‘Boko Haram Terrorist Designation Act of 2013,’’ H.Res. 3209. The State Department committed to making the declaration at a November 2013, House hearing chaired by Smith.