Nigeria receives $187.3m as US reviews aid conditions

Nigeria received a total of $187,352,312 in US foreign assistance in 2026, according to data released on May 20, 2026. This disbursement positions Nigeria as the second-largest recipient of US aid in sub-Saharan Africa during that period, trailing only Ethiopia. The majority of the funding, $186,715,308, was channeled through the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Other US agencies contributing to this assistance included the Department of State ($370,210), Department of Defence ($240,146), Department of the Interior ($16,456), Department of Agriculture ($10,042), and Department of Transportation ($150). Several other agencies, such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Peace Corps, recorded no disbursements for the year.

This influx of aid comes as US lawmakers are contemplating imposing tighter conditions on future assistance to Nigeria. A proposal advanced by the US House Appropriations Committee in 2027 could see up to 50% of US aid withheld. This would require the Secretary of State to certify that Nigeria is effectively addressing insecurity, protecting vulnerable populations, and ensuring accountability for violence.

The proposed bill also introduces cost-sharing requirements and links future funding to progress in counterterrorism, human rights, and humanitarian response. These measures reflect increasing concern among US legislators regarding the persistent violence in Nigeria, particularly the attacks affecting Christian communities. The Nigerian government maintains that insecurity impacts all citizens regardless of faith and reaffirms its commitment to cooperating with the US on security reforms.