US Places Nigeria on Child Soldiers Blacklist Amid Aid Cuts

The US government has listed Nigeria on its Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) blacklist, which may result in cuts to American military training, weapons sales, and defense financing starting October 1, 2026, unless President Donald Trump issues a waiver. This designation was included in the US State Department's 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, published on October 11, 2026.

The report attributes Nigeria's listing to the ongoing recruitment and use of children by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa, with children as young as 12 being used as armed combatants, suicide bombers, cooks, spies, and checkpoint guards. The report also highlights Nigeria's failure to meet minimum standards for eliminating trafficking for the 15th consecutive year, although some efforts were noted.

The number of trafficking victims receiving government support decreased significantly, and there were no prosecutions of government officials for complicity in trafficking. Despite these issues, the US acknowledged Nigeria's increased funding for victim services and anti-trafficking efforts.