UK Slashes Nigeria Aid by 50%
The United Kingdom will cut development assistance to Nigeria by more than half under a wider overhaul of its overseas aid programme.
UK aid to Nigeria will fall by 50.2 per cent under a new three-year funding plan, as the British government reduces overseas development spending to finance higher defence expenditure and other domestic priorities.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Nigeria’s allocation will decline from £136.62 million in the 2025–2026 financial year to £68 million by 2028–2029. The reduction forms part of a broader restructuring that will affect 34 African countries, with some facing cuts of more than 90 per cent.
The UK aid to Nigeria reduction follows the Labour government’s decision to lower its Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 0.7 per cent to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027. The government said the savings would support increased defence spending while introducing what it described as a modernised approach to international development.
In its annual report, the FCDO said future funding allocations would remain flexible to respond to changing global priorities, including humanitarian emergencies and international conflicts. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain remained committed to international partnerships despite the difficult funding decisions, stressing that the country was not abandoning its global responsibilities.
Several African countries will experience even steeper reductions. Kenya faces the largest cut of 92.5 per cent, while Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique will each lose more than 90 per cent of their allocations. South Africa is expected to receive no funding by 2029 after earlier reductions.
The UK aid to Nigeria cut reflects a wider shift among Western governments. The United States, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden have also reduced foreign aid budgets as they prioritise defence spending and domestic economic programmes.
For Nigeria, the funding reduction comes as the country continues to address humanitarian challenges in the North East, strengthen healthcare services, improve education, and respond to climate-related pressures. British assistance has traditionally supported programmes across these critical sectors.
How do you think the reduction in international aid will affect Nigeria’s long-term development efforts?
