The United States government has officially authorized $413m for counter-insurgency and security operations in Nigeria and other West African nations.
The funding, part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), comes as the region faces escalating threats from jihadist groups, armed banditry, and maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
It was gathered that the $413m on security operations in Nigeria and other countries represents the full amount requested by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) for its operations and maintenance budget in the region.
For Nigeria, this development follows a series of high-level engagements between Washington and Abuja. Earlier this week, AFRICOM confirmed the delivery of critical military equipment to Nigerian security agencies.
This logistical support is designed to enhance the Nigerian military’s capacity to combat Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants in the North-East, as well as the rising tide of banditry in the North-West.
The security budget for the U.S Africa Command comes against the backdrop of the Christmas Day attacks on terrorists’ hideouts in Sokoto State by the Donald Trump administration.
The NDAA 2026 is a comprehensive bill that outlines defense policy priorities and authorizes $901 billion in annual military spending, with a 4 percent pay raise for troops. AFRICOM requested $413.046 million, and the same amount was authorized, but the Act did not provide a breakdown of how the funds would be spent.
The Act was signed into law by President Trump on December 18, 2025, marking the 65th consecutive annual authorisation.
Also, Mali is under persistent attacks by jihadist groups, while northern Benin has witnessed a spillover of violence from the Sahel.
Other commands and activities listed under the operation and maintenance category of the NDAA include the United States European Command with a $385.744m budget, United States Southern Command with $224.971m, US Forces Korea with a $77.049m allocation, Cyberspace Activities (Cyberspace Operations), $331.467m, and Cyberspace Activities (Cybersecurity), $550.089m.
The subtotal for operating forces under operation and maintenance in the Act stands at $39.999b.
The Act also provides for the establishment of an Assistant Secretary for African Affairs within the US Department of State.
The office, according to the Act, will oversee matters relating to sub-Saharan Africa and coordinate the implementation of US foreign policy in the region.
In addition, the Appropriation Act establishes a Bureau of African Affairs, to be headed by the Assistant Secretary, to manage US foreign policy implementation and assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.
“(5) BUREAU OF AFRICAN AFFAIRS. (A) ESTABLISHMENT: There shall be in the Department of State a Bureau of African Affairs, which shall perform such functions related to implementation of United States foreign policy and assistance to sub-Saharan Africa as the Under Secretary for Political Affairs may prescribe.”
‘’(B) HEAD: The Assistant Secretary for African Affairs shall be the head of the Bureau of African Affairs.
‘’(9) ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS: (A) ESTABLISHMENT. There shall be in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary for African Affairs who shall be responsible to the Secretary of State, acting through the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, for “(i) matters relating to sub-Saharan Africa; and “(ii) such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate.
“(B) Responsibilities: In addition to the responsibilities described under subparagraph (A), the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters about implementation of United States foreign policy in sub-Saharan Africa,” the Act partly read.
The Act further mandates assessments of Russia’s military strategy, objectives, and force posture affecting African countries.
This includes a review of Russia’s overseas military basing, logistics capabilities, and infrastructure used to project power on the continent, as well as the implications for US contingency plans under AFRICOM, US Central Command, and US European Command.
“An assessment of the military strategy objectives and force posture of Russia that affect countries in Africa; A description of Russia’s overseas military basing, military logistics capabilities, and infrastructure to project power.
“An analysis of the impact of such an action on the ability of the Armed Forces to execute contingency plans of the Department of Defence, including those in the area of responsibility of United States European Command or in support of operations and crisis response in the areas of responsibility of United States Central Command and United States Africa Command.’’
“The reduction of the risk of executing contingency plans of the Department of Defence, including contingency plans conducted by United States Central Command and United States Africa Command,” the Act stated.
