Nigeria received more than $1.3 billion in foreign assistance from the United States over the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, according to newly released figures, even as Washington moves to tighten oversight on future funding.
Data published by the US Department of State shows that total disbursements to Nigeria stood at $1,385,151,397 within the two-year period. The country received $879.1 million in 2024, followed by $646.4 million in 2025, placing it among the top five beneficiaries of US aid in sub-Saharan Africa.
The funding pattern reveals a heavy reliance on the US Agency for International Development, which accounted for the largest share in both years. In 2024 alone, USAID disbursed $738.7 million, representing the bulk of US support to Nigeria. The Department of Health and Human Services followed with $112.1 million, while the Department of State contributed $19.9 million.
Other agencies made smaller contributions, including the Trade and Development Agency and the African Development Foundation, while departments such as Treasury, Agriculture and Defence recorded relatively modest disbursements. Several US institutions, however, reported no funding to Nigeria during the year.
In 2025, total assistance dropped to $646.4 million, though USAID again dominated with $597.6 million. The Department of Health and Human Services contributed $33.3 million, while the Department of State disbursed $12.1 million. As in the previous year, most other agencies played limited roles in the overall funding structure.
While the figures underscore sustained US financial support to Nigeria, they also come at a time of growing concern in Washington about accountability and impact.
The US House Appropriations Committee has already advanced proposals that could reshape future aid to Nigeria by introducing stricter conditions and oversight mechanisms.
Under the proposed 2027 funding framework, up to half of US assistance allocated to Nigeria could be withheld unless the Secretary of State certifies that the government is making meaningful progress in addressing insecurity, safeguarding vulnerable communities, and prosecuting perpetrators of violence.
The proposal also links continued funding to measurable improvements in areas such as counterterrorism, human rights protection, and humanitarian response, while introducing cost-sharing provisions aimed at increasing local responsibility.
The push for tighter conditions reflects mounting concerns among US lawmakers over the persistence of violence in Nigeria, particularly in regions affected by insurgency and communal clashes.
However, Nigerian authorities have rejected allegations that the violence is driven by religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity cuts across all groups. The Federal Government has also reiterated its willingness to collaborate with the United States on security reforms and capacity building.
Analysts say the latest data highlights a shifting dynamic in US-Nigeria relations, where financial support remains strong but is increasingly tied to performance benchmarks and accountability standards.
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