The United States has released over $187 million in financial assistance to Nigeria in 2026, even as American lawmakers push for tougher conditions on future support to the country over rising insecurity and human rights concerns.
Fresh figures published by the US Department of State under its updated “US Foreign Assistance” report showed that Nigeria received a total of $187,352,312 in aid disbursement as of May 20, 2026.
The report placed Nigeria as the second-highest recipient of US assistance in sub-Saharan Africa, behind Ethiopia.
Most of the funds were channelled through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which handled more than $186 million of the total support released to Nigeria during the period.
Other agencies involved in the disbursement included the US Department of State, the Department of Defence, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Transportation.
The figures also showed that several US agencies made no financial disbursement to Nigeria within the period under review. Among them are the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Peace Corps, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice and the US Air Force.
The latest disclosure comes amid growing pressure from members of the US Congress demanding stricter monitoring of how assistance to Nigeria is managed.
Last month, the US House Appropriations Committee moved forward with provisions in the proposed 2027 appropriations bill seeking tighter conditions for future aid to Nigeria.
Under the proposal, up to half of future US assistance to Nigeria may be withheld until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government is taking concrete steps to tackle insecurity, protect vulnerable citizens and hold perpetrators of violence accountable.
The proposed legislation also seeks stronger cost-sharing measures and ties future support to progress in counterterrorism operations, humanitarian interventions and the protection of human rights.
Although the bill has not yet become law, as it still requires approval from both the US Congress and the President, it signals increasing concern among American lawmakers over the security situation in Nigeria.
Particular attention has been placed on violent attacks affecting communities in parts of the country, especially in the North Central region.
The Federal Government has repeatedly denied allegations that Christians are being specifically targeted, insisting that insecurity in Nigeria cuts across religious and ethnic lines.
Authorities in Abuja have also maintained that Nigeria remains committed to working closely with the United States and other international partners on security reforms and counterterrorism efforts.