The United States has earmarked about ₦587 billion ($413.046 million) for counter-insurgency and security operations in Nigeria and other African countries in 2026, as insecurity continues to worsen across West Africa.
The funding is contained in the United States National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, obtained by The PUNCH on Thursday. The allocation falls under Title XLIII (Operation and Maintenance) and is designated for the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The budget approval comes against the backdrop of recent U.S.-led operations targeting terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, under the administration of President Donald Trump. Earlier this week, AFRICOM also delivered military equipment to Nigerian security agencies as part of efforts to strengthen ongoing security operations.
The NDAA 2026 authorises a total of $901 billion in annual U.S. defence spending, including a four per cent pay rise for military personnel. AFRICOM requested $413.046 million for its operations, an amount that was fully approved, although the Act did not specify how the funds would be disbursed.
President Trump signed the Act into law on December 18, 2025, making it the 65th consecutive annual defence authorisation.
The security allocation comes at a time when West Africa is grappling with insurgency, banditry and violent extremism. In Nigeria, insurgency persists in the North-East, banditry remains rife in the North-West, and piracy continues to threaten maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. Mali remains under sustained jihadist attacks, while northern Benin has experienced spillover violence from the Sahel.
Other allocations under the NDAA’s operation and maintenance category include $385.744 million for the United States European Command, $224.971 million for the United States Southern Command, $77.049 million for US Forces Korea, $331.467 million for cyberspace operations and $550.089 million for cybersecurity activities. Overall, operating forces under this category total $39.999 billion.
The Act also provides for the creation of an Assistant Secretary for African Affairs within the U.S. Department of State. The office will oversee issues relating to sub-Saharan Africa and coordinate the implementation of U.S. foreign policy in the region.
In addition, a Bureau of African Affairs will be established and headed by the Assistant Secretary to manage U.S. policy execution and assistance programmes across sub-Saharan Africa.
The legislation further mandates a comprehensive assessment of Russia’s military strategy and force posture in Africa, including its overseas bases, logistics capabilities and infrastructure used to project power on the continent. It also calls for an evaluation of how such activities affect U.S. contingency planning under AFRICOM, the U.S. Central Command and the U.S. European Command.
Commenting on the development, security analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Consulting, Kabir Adamu, said the funding and policy decisions reflect intensifying geopolitical competition in Africa, largely driven by economic interests.
According to him, Africa—particularly West Africa and the Sahel—has become a strategic battleground due to insecurity, weak governance structures and the presence of critical natural resources. He noted that Russia and China have expanded their influence through military cooperation and economic engagement, forcing the U.S. to reassess its approach.
Adamu argued that while the rivalry is often framed in security terms, the primary motivation is economic, particularly access to strategic minerals such as lithium. He dismissed narratives suggesting U.S. involvement is aimed at halting religious persecution in Nigeria, insisting that available evidence does not support claims of a Christian genocide.
He stressed the need for transparency, urging journalists and lawmakers to scrutinise any agreements between Nigeria and the U.S., whether economic or military, in the interest of public accountability.
Another security analyst, Chidi Omeje, said Nigeria’s engagement with the U.S. should be viewed as a partnership rather than an assertion of dominance. He noted that cooperation with AFRICOM reflects mutual respect and aligns with Nigeria’s long-standing demand to be treated as an equal partner in addressing security challenges.
Omeje added that many of Nigeria’s security threats are linked to transnational terrorist networks operating across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, making international collaboration essential.
Army–US Cooperation
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has called for stronger strategic cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the United States Army to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security threats.
Shaibu made the call on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the U.S. Defense Attaché to Nigeria, Lt. Col. Semira Moore, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
He praised the U.S. government for its sustained support and partnership, noting that the Nigerian Army has benefited from American military professionalism and institutional expertise. He advocated expanded cooperation in areas such as operational effectiveness, doctrine development, institutional capacity building and strategic capability.
Moore reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to deepening ties with the Nigerian Army, particularly in capacity building, intelligence sharing and joint operational planning. She also disclosed that U.S. support would continue in non-kinetic areas such as humanitarian assistance and troop welfare, which she described as vital to morale and operational effectiveness.