The United States has earmarked $413 million to support counter-insurgency and security initiatives in Nigeria and other West African nations for the 2026 fiscal year, following the enactment of the National Defence Authorisation Act in December 2025.
This allocation, included in the United States Africa Command budget, underscores Washington’s response to the growing insecurity across the region.
It forms part of a broader defence package authorising $901 billion in overall military spending, which also includes a four per cent pay increase for US service members, the 65th consecutive annual authorisation of its kind.
While the NDAA does not detail how the $413 million will be distributed among individual countries, it matches the full amount AFRICOM requested for its Africa operations and maintenance budget.
The decision comes amid intensifying threats from jihadist organisations, armed bandits, and maritime criminals in Nigeria and neighbouring states.
The country continues to battle a protracted insurgency in the North-East, rising banditry in the North-West, and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Meanwhile, Mali faces renewed militant activity, and northern Benin has seen violence spill over from the Sahel.
Recent reports indicated that the US has stepped up security cooperation with Nigeria. AFRICOM confirmed the delivery of military equipment to Nigerian security agencies in Abuja, noting, “This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership.”
The US engagement comes on the heels of air strikes on suspected terrorist positions in Sokoto State on Christmas Day 2025, conducted with Nigerian coordination.
These actions mark a wider US strategy of enhanced involvement in the region, including intelligence sharing and operational support against extremist groups.
Beyond financial support, the NDAA introduces significant policy changes. It establishes a new Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the US State Department and forms a Bureau of African Affairs to oversee US foreign policy and assistance in sub-Saharan Africa.
The legislation further requires a thorough review of Russia’s military presence and activities across the continent, a step expected to influence US strategic planning involving AFRICOM, Central Command, and European Command.
