The United States government has pledged $32.5 million to support food security efforts in Nigeria, as part of its broader commitment to addressing hunger and strengthening resilience across West Africa.
The announcement was made this week by U.S. officials in Abuja, who explained that the funding will be directed toward programmes aimed at improving agricultural productivity, expanding access to nutrition, and supporting vulnerable households affected by rising food prices and climate pressures.
According to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, the initiative will be implemented through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), working in partnership with Nigerian authorities, local organisations, and international partners. The funds will support projects focused on smallholder farmers, value chain development, and climate-smart agricultural practices designed to ensure long-term sustainability.
U.S. representatives noted that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces a growing food security challenge, with millions of people at risk of malnutrition due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and insecurity in key food-producing regions. They stressed that the intervention underscores Washington’s commitment to helping Nigeria build a more resilient food system.
In addition to agricultural support, the funding package includes provisions for community-based nutrition programmes targeting women and children, as well as capacity-building initiatives to strengthen food distribution networks.
The Nigerian government welcomed the support, describing it as timely given the pressures on the nation’s food supply. Officials said the funds would complement domestic efforts under the Presidential Food Systems programme, which seeks to reduce reliance on imports and boost local production.
The new commitment brings the United States’ total recent contribution to Nigeria’s food security and humanitarian response to over $200 million in the past two years, according to USAID.
