The United States has approved $413.046 million (about N587 billion) for security and counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria and other African countries in 2026, reflecting Washington’s growing focus on worsening insecurity across West Africa.
The funding is contained in the US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 and falls under the operation and maintenance allocation for the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The approval comes amid persistent insurgency, banditry and violent extremism in the region, as well as renewed US-backed counter-terrorism actions, including recent strikes on terrorist hideouts in parts of Sokoto State. As part of this cooperation, AFRICOM earlier this week delivered military equipment to Nigerian security agencies to bolster ongoing operations.
President Donald Trump signed the NDAA 2026 into law on December 18, 2025. The legislation authorises a total of $901 billion in defence spending, includes a four per cent pay rise for US troops and marks the 65th consecutive annual defence authorisation.
AFRICOM requested $413.046 million for its operations and received the full amount, although the Act did not outline a country-by-country or programme-specific breakdown of the spending.
The allocation comes as Nigeria continues to battle insurgency in the North-East and banditry in the North-West, while piracy and other maritime crimes persist in the Gulf of Guinea. Elsewhere, Mali remains under sustained attacks by jihadist groups, and northern Benin has experienced spillover violence from the Sahel.
Other commands funded under the operation and maintenance category include the US European Command with $385.744 million, US Southern Command with $224.971 million, and US Forces Korea with $77.049 million. Additional allocations were approved for cyberspace operations ($331.467 million) and cybersecurity activities ($550.089 million). Overall, operating forces under this category received $39.999 billion.
Beyond military funding, the Act provides for the establishment of an Assistant Secretary for African Affairs at the US Department of State. The office will oversee matters relating to sub-Saharan Africa and coordinate the implementation of US foreign policy and assistance in the region.
A Bureau of African Affairs, to be headed by the Assistant Secretary, was also created to manage policy execution across sub-Saharan Africa.
The NDAA further mandates a detailed assessment of Russia’s military strategy and force posture in Africa, including its overseas bases, logistics capabilities and power-projection infrastructure, and the implications for US contingency planning under AFRICOM, US Central Command and US European Command.
Army–US engagement
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has called for deeper strategic engagement between the Nigerian Army and the United States Army to address Nigeria’s evolving and complex security challenges.
Shaibu made the call on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the US Defense Attaché to Nigeria, Lt. Col. Semira Moore, to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
He commended the United States for its sustained partnership and support, noting that the Nigerian Army has benefited significantly from American military professionalism and institutional expertise.
The army chief stressed the need to expand cooperation in areas such as operational effectiveness, institutional capacity building, doctrine development and strategic capability, adding that international military partnerships remain crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
In her response, Moore reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Nigerian Army, particularly in capacity building, intelligence sharing and joint operational planning.
She also said the United States would continue to support Nigeria in non-kinetic areas, including humanitarian assistance and troop welfare, which she described as vital to sustaining morale and operational effectiveness in the field.
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