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The United States has released $187.35 million in foreign assistance to Nigeria so far in 2026, placing Africa’s largest economy among the top beneficiaries of US support in sub-Saharan Africa, even as Washington moves to tighten conditions for future funding.
Updated figures published on May 20, 2026, under the US Department of State’s “US Foreign Assistance” report show that Nigeria ranked as the second-largest recipient in the region during the period, behind Ethiopia.
The data indicate that the overwhelming share of the funding—$186.7 million—was channelled through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), underscoring its central role in implementing American development programmes in Nigeria.
Other disbursements were relatively modest. The Department of State accounted for $370,210, followed by the Department of Defence with $240,146. Smaller contributions came from the Department of the Interior ($16,456), the Department of Agriculture ($10,042), and the Department of Transportation ($150).
Several US agencies recorded no disbursements to Nigeria within the period. These include the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Trade and Development Agency, the African Development Foundation, and the Department of the Treasury, among others.
The latest figures come against the backdrop of growing scrutiny in Washington over how aid to Nigeria is utilised, particularly in relation to security and human rights concerns.
Last month, the US House Appropriations Committee advanced provisions in the proposed 2027 appropriations bill that could significantly reshape future assistance to Nigeria.
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Under the proposal, up to half of US aid to the country may be withheld pending certification by the Secretary of State that the Nigerian government is taking concrete steps to address insecurity, protect vulnerable populations, and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.
The draft legislation also introduces cost-sharing requirements and ties future disbursements to measurable progress in counterterrorism operations, human rights safeguards, and humanitarian response efforts.
Although the bill is yet to be passed by the full US Congress and signed into law by the President, it signals mounting concern among American lawmakers over persistent violence in Nigeria, including attacks affecting religious communities.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has repeatedly rejected claims of targeted religious persecution, insisting that insecurity in the country cuts across all faiths and regions.
Officials have also reaffirmed Abuja’s commitment to ongoing security sector reforms and continued collaboration with the United States to tackle terrorism and improve stability.
Despite the looming policy shift, the latest disbursement highlights the enduring strategic partnership between both countries, particularly in development and humanitarian support.
