The United States has announced plans to spend about ₦587 billion ($413.046 million) on counter-insurgency and broader security operations in Nigeria and other African countries in 2026, according to provisions contained in the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The allocation, approved under Title XLIII of the Act, which covers Operation and Maintenance, is designated for activities under the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). While the funding was fully authorised by the US Congress, the Act does not provide a detailed breakdown of how the money will be distributed among specific countries or operations.
The AFRICOM allocation comes at a time of worsening security conditions across West Africa, where several countries continue to battle insurgency, banditry and violent extremism. In Nigeria, attacks by insurgent groups in the North-East, persistent banditry in the North-West, and ongoing maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea have strained security agencies. The US funding is expected to support counter-terrorism operations, training, logistics and maintenance, although the lack of specific spending details has left room for speculation about its precise impact on individual countries.
Recent US-backed military activities in Nigeria have added context to the budgetary decision. On Tuesday, AFRICOM delivered a consignment of military equipment to Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing cooperation to strengthen security operations. This followed reports of US-supported airstrikes targeting terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, actions that US officials have described as part of broader efforts to degrade extremist networks operating across borders in the region.
The security allocation forms part of a much larger defence package outlined in the NDAA 2026, a comprehensive bill that sets US defence policy priorities and authorises a total of $901 billion in annual military spending. The Act also provides for a four per cent pay raise for US troops, reflecting domestic military welfare considerations alongside overseas operational commitments. AFRICOM requested $413.046 million for its operations, and the same amount was approved, underscoring Washington’s continued focus on Africa within its global defence posture.
Beyond AFRICOM, the NDAA details funding for several other US military commands and activities under the Operation and Maintenance category. These include $385.744 million for the United States European Command, $224.971 million for the United States Southern Command, and $77.049 million for US Forces Korea. Significant allocations were also made for cyberspace operations, with $331.467 million earmarked for Cyberspace Operations and $550.089 million for Cybersecurity, bringing the subtotal for operating forces under this category to $39.999 billion.
The Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025, marked the 65th consecutive annual authorisation of US defence spending. In addition to military funding, it introduces notable institutional changes within US foreign policy structures. One of the key provisions is the establishment of an Assistant Secretary for African Affairs within the US Department of State, a role designed to strengthen oversight and coordination of US engagement with sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the NDAA, the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs will be responsible for matters relating to sub-Saharan Africa and will operate under the authority of the Secretary of State through the Under Secretary for Political Affairs. The Act also establishes a Bureau of African Affairs, to be headed by the Assistant Secretary, with a mandate to manage the implementation of US foreign policy and assistance programmes across the region. Lawmakers say the move reflects the growing strategic importance of Africa in US foreign relations.
Another significant aspect of the NDAA is its requirement for detailed assessments of Russia’s military strategy, objectives and force posture affecting African countries. The Act mandates a review of Russia’s overseas military basing, logistics capabilities and infrastructure used to project power on the continent, as well as an analysis of how these activities could affect US contingency plans under AFRICOM, the United States European Command (EUCOM) and the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
US lawmakers say these assessments are intended to reduce risks to the execution of US military contingency plans and improve preparedness in regions where Russian influence is expanding. The provision reflects broader geopolitical concerns in Washington about competition with Russia, and increasingly China, for influence in Africa through military cooperation, economic engagement and access to strategic resources.
Commenting on the development, security analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Consulting, Kabir Adamu, said the funding and policy measures signal intensifying geopolitical rivalry on the African continent. According to him, Africa, particularly West Africa and the Sahel, has become a strategic arena due to insecurity, weak state control in some areas, and the presence of critical natural resources. He argued that Russia and China have already expanded their influence across Africa, prompting the United States to reassess and strengthen its posture.
Adamu described the rivalry as largely driven by economic interests rather than purely military considerations. He noted that access to critical minerals, including rare earth elements such as lithium, is a major factor shaping global power engagement in Africa. He added that while security cooperation may be framed around counter-terrorism or stability, underlying economic motivations are likely to play a decisive role, warning that increased competition could also generate local resistance if not managed transparently.
He further stressed the need for clarity on any agreements entered into between Nigeria and the United States, arguing that Nigerians deserve to know whether such arrangements are primarily economic, military or both. According to him, transparency will be crucial in maintaining public trust and ensuring that foreign partnerships align with Nigeria’s national interests and foreign policy principle of strategic autonomy.
Another security analyst, Chidi Omeje, offered a different perspective, emphasising partnership rather than rivalry. Omeje said Nigeria’s evolving relationship with the United States, particularly through AFRICOM, should be viewed as a collaboration based on mutual respect and shared security concerns. He noted that many of Nigeria’s security threats are linked to global terrorist networks operating across borders in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, making international cooperation necessary.
Omeje argued that recent engagements, including the delivery of military equipment to Nigerian forces, reflect a partnership model rather than dominance or repression. He expressed reservations about Russia’s growing security involvement in Africa, citing Moscow’s limited capacity due to its ongoing war in Ukraine, and maintained that collaboration with global partners remains essential in addressing transnational security challenges.
In a related development, Nigeria-US military cooperation received further emphasis during a courtesy visit by the US Defense Attaché to Nigeria, Lt. Col. Semira Moore, to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja. During the meeting, Shaibu called for deeper strategic cooperation between the Nigerian Army and the United States Army to address Nigeria’s evolving and complex security threats.
The Chief of Army Staff commended the US government for its sustained support, noting that the Nigerian Army has benefitted from American military professionalism and institutional expertise. He advocated expanding cooperation in areas such as operational effectiveness, doctrine development, intelligence sharing and non-kinetic operations, while Moore reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening ties, including support for humanitarian assistance and troop welfare initiatives. Together, the statements underscored a shared emphasis on partnership, capacity building and long-term stability as the US prepares to implement its 2026 security spending plans in Africa.