UK to Cut Nigeria's Development Aid by 50% by 2029

Nigeria is set to lose over half of its development assistance from the United Kingdom due to a policy shift by the British government, which aims to reduce overseas aid and focus more on defense and domestic priorities. According to the 2025–2026 Annual Report and Accounts of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), direct aid to Nigeria will decline from £136.62 million in the 2025/2026 financial year to £68 million by the 2028/2029 financial year, marking a 50.2% reduction.

This cut is part of a larger restructuring of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), which will be reduced to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027. The British government cited the need for increased spending on national defense and security as a primary reason for this decision.

The reduction will impact various critical sectors in Nigeria, including healthcare, education, governance, and poverty reduction, particularly in vulnerable communities.