For several weeks after his inauguration, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, stopped the activities of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This is part of an effort to cut down government expenses and a lot of reactions have claimed that the impact on humanitarian activities would be enormous.
Established in 1961, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been providing financial assistance to nations worldwide for over six decades. The agency was founded to strengthen U.S. influence abroad and serve as a strategic response to foreign aid initiatives from other global powers.
According to data, as of 2023, the countries with the highest financial aid were Ukraine which received $16.02 billion disbursements, Ethiopia, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Somalia rounded out the top five recipients, receiving $1.67 billion, $1.19 billion, $1.08 billion, and $1.04 billion, respectively, during the period under review.
Also, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Nigeria, Yemen, and South Sudan completed the top 10, securing $936 million, $895 million, $824 million, $812 million, and $740 million, respectively.
However, RipplesMetrics investigated the financial aid flowing into Nigeria and found that since 1960, a significant portion has been directed toward key sectors such as health, agriculture, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), education, humanitarian assistance, and democratic governance.
For instance, In 2024, USAID allocated $2.3 million to Nigeria for the procurement of 4.8 million doses of malaria medication to aid in the fight against the disease and approximately $100 million to support critical needs, including health programs and disaster preparedness initiatives.
Financial aid to Nigeria in 10 years
Over the past decade, U.S. foreign aid to Nigeria has seen significant fluctuations, reflecting shifts in priorities and global economic conditions. In 2015, Nigeria received $446 million in assistance, which steadily increased in the following years, reaching $643 million by 2017. The largest jump occurred in 2018, when aid surged to $877 million, before slightly dipping to $761 million in 2019.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, USAID funding to Nigeria remained strong, peaking at $922 million in 2021 and further rising to $974 million in 2022. In 2023, foreign aid hit the $1 billion mark, marking the highest amount received within the decade. This increase was likely driven by pressing humanitarian needs, health crises, and developmental projects.
However, in 2024, U.S. assistance dropped to $783 million, signalling a decline from the previous year. The reduction may be due to shifting policy priorities, budgetary constraints, or a strategic realignment of aid distribution. Nonetheless, Nigeria remained a key recipient of U.S. foreign aid, with continued support directed toward health, governance, and economic development initiatives.
By: James Odunayo
