The United States has disbursed a total of $187,352,312 in foreign assistance to Nigeria in 2026, according to updated data published on the U.S. Department of State website on May 20, 2026, under the ‘US Foreign Assistance’ report.
According to the data, Nigeria emerged as the second-largest recipient of U.S. assistance in sub-Saharan Africa during the period, behind Ethiopia.
The bulk of the funding was implemented through the U.S. Agency for International Development, which accounted for $186,715,308 of the total disbursement.
It was followed by the Department of State with $370,210, the Department of Defence with $240,146, the Department of the Interior with $16,456, the Department of Agriculture with $10,042, and the Department of Transportation with $150.
Several agencies recorded no disbursements for the period. These include the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Department of Health and Human Services, Trade and Development Agency, African Development Foundation, Department of the Treasury, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, the Peace Corps, Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, the Inter-American Foundation, and its International Development Finance Corporation.
The disclosure comes at a time when U.S. lawmakers are weighing tighter conditions for future assistance to Nigeria.
Last month, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee advanced provisions in the proposed 2027 appropriations bill that would impose stricter oversight on funding to the country.
Under the proposal, up to 50 per cent of U.S. assistance to Nigeria could be withheld until the Secretary of State certifies that the Federal Government is taking effective steps to address insecurity, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure accountability for perpetrators of violence.
The bill also introduces cost-sharing requirements and links future funding to progress in counterterrorism efforts, human rights protections, and humanitarian response.
The measure still requires approval by the full U.S. Congress and the President before it can become law, but it reflects growing concern among U.S. lawmakers over ongoing violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks affecting Christian communities.
The Federal Government has consistently rejected allegations of religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity in the country affects citizens across all faiths, while reaffirming continued cooperation with the U.S. on security reforms.
The PUNCH