The United States has approved a security budget of $413.046m, equivalent to about N587bn, for counter insurgency operations in Nigeria and other African countries in 2026 as security challenges continue to escalate across West Africa.
The allocation is contained in the United States National Defence Authorisation Act for the 2026 fiscal year, which authorises funding for military operations under the operation and maintenance category. The document showed that the funds were approved for activities of the United States Africa Command.
The approval comes amid rising concerns over terrorism, banditry and violent extremism in the region. In Nigeria, insurgency in the North East and banditry in the North West remain persistent, while piracy and other maritime crimes continue to threaten the Gulf of Guinea.
Although AFRICOM requested the full $413.046m allocation, the Act did not provide a detailed breakdown of how the funds would be deployed across beneficiary countries.
The NDAA 2026 authorises a total defence spending of $901bn and includes a four per cent pay increase for US troops. The legislation was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025, marking the 65th consecutive annual defence authorisation by the United States.
Beyond security operations, the Act also provides for the creation of an Assistant Secretary for African Affairs within the US Department of State. The office will oversee United States foreign policy and assistance programmes for sub Saharan Africa.
The law further mandates a review of Russia’s military activities on the African continent, including its force posture, overseas bases and logistics infrastructure, and how these developments could affect United States military planning.
Commenting on the development, security analyst and Beacon Consulting Chief Executive Officer, Kabir Adamu, said the funding reflected intensifying geopolitical competition in Africa, driven largely by security concerns and strategic economic interests.
