Nigeria has been ranked as the third-largest recipient of development assistance in Africa from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), receiving $876 million in 2024. This information was revealed in the Africa Sustainable Development Report 2025, jointly released by the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme.
According to the report, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) topped the list with $1.3 billion in USAID support, followed by Ethiopia, which received $1.25 billion. Nigeria placed third, ahead of South Sudan ($830 million), Kenya ($824 million), Mozambique ($756 million), and Sudan ($694 million). Despite Nigeria’s high absolute allocation, the aid represented only 0.21% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the second-lowest ratio among the top ten beneficiaries. In contrast, South Sudan, with less total aid, recorded the highest aid-to-GDP ratio at 6.05%.
Overall, the top ten African countries collectively received $8.1 billion in USAID assistance in 2024, with the DRC and Ethiopia accounting for a substantial portion. The report underscored disparities in financial needs across African regions, noting that East and West Africa face the most significant funding gaps due to their large populations and limited fiscal space. North and Southern Africa, on the other hand, have smaller Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) financing gaps, reflecting stronger economic structures and fiscal stability.
The 2025 report further stressed the importance of domestic resource mobilisation and fiscal efficiency, urging African governments to reduce dependence on external aid and focus on sustainable internal revenue generation to achieve SDG targets.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s access to $602.95 million in USAID funding for 2025 has been thrown into uncertainty following a 90-day suspension of all agency programmes by U.S. President Donald Trump. The freeze followed an executive order he signed upon returning to office in January 2025, mandating a full review of U.S. foreign aid to assess its effectiveness, eliminate inefficiencies, and ensure alignment with American national interests.
Under the proposed 2025 USAID budget, a large share,89.27%,of Nigeria’s allocation was intended for health initiatives, emphasizing the nation’s heavy reliance on U.S. assistance in that sector. The Global Health Programme was set to receive the bulk of funds: $368 million for HIV/AIDS, $73 million for malaria, $22 million for tuberculosis, $33.25 million for maternal and child health, and $22.5 million for family planning. In comparison, only $2.5 million was designated for water and sanitation projects, raising concerns about clean water access in rural areas.
Additionally, $7.6 million was earmarked for peace and security efforts, including conflict mitigation, citizen security, and law enforcement. Economic development programmes were also expected to benefit from $39.6 million, focusing primarily on agriculture ($29.1 million), private sector productivity, and clean energy initiatives.
With the USAID suspension now in effect, the Nigerian government has introduced emergency measures, allocating $200 million to sustain key health programmes, particularly in vaccine supply, antiretroviral treatment, and maternal health services. These steps aim to mitigate potential disruptions as uncertainty looms over future U.S. assistance to Nigeria.
