January 16, (THEWILL) — The United States has approved $413 million to support counter-insurgency and security operations in Nigeria and other African countries in 2026, as terrorism, banditry and violent extremism continue to escalate across West Africa.
The funding is contained in the US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for 2026, signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025.
The allocation falls under Operations and Maintenance for the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which received the full amount it requested, though the Act did not provide a breakdown of how much each beneficiary country would receive.
This comes amid increased US military engagement in Nigeria. On Tuesday, AFRICOM delivered military equipment to Nigerian security agencies, weeks after US forces reportedly carried out air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State on Christmas Day.
Security analysts say the renewed commitment reflects Washington’s growing concern over the deteriorating security situation across West Africa, where insurgent groups and armed criminal networks have intensified attacks on civilians, security personnel and critical infrastructure.
The 2026 defence authorisation law approves a total of $901 billion in US defence spending and includes a four percent pay rise for American troops. It also marks the 65th consecutive year the United States has passed an annual defence authorisation bill.
AFRICOM officials have repeatedly linked the funding increase to worsening insecurity across the region, particularly in countries grappling with terrorism, banditry and transnational crime.
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