A U.S senator, Ted Cruz, has lauded President Donald Trump for designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over alleged targeted murder of Christians in the country.

Mr Cruz stated that the next step was for the U.S. to slam sanctions on those implementing sharia and blasphemy laws in Nigeria.

Mr Cruz made the call in a statement on Friday, shortly after Mr Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern.

He stated, “Today’s designation is a critical step in holding accountable and changing the behavior of Nigerian officials who have facilitated and created an environment conducive to the outrages in Nigeria.”

The Republican senator added, “My legislation implements additional steps, including targeting those who implement blasphemy and sharia laws in Nigeria, and I am committed to working with the administration and my colleagues to advance my bill and implement these necessary measures.”

Mr Trump’s declaration followed weeks of persistent pressure from notable American politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz, Riley Moore, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and others, calling on the Trump administration to designate Nigeria as a CPC nation.

Amid campaign against Christian genocide in Nigeria, Mr Cruz proposed a “Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act” that would target government officials facilitating murder of Chrisians and implementation of “blasphemy laws” with sanctions.

The designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern will allow the United States to impose sanctions on the Nigerian government, politicians and individuals deemed culpable in the killing of Christians in the country.