By George Omagbemi
Nigeria is set to lose more than half of its UK development aid by 2029 as Britain implements major cuts to overseas assistance amid increased defence spending and shifting development priorities.
According to UK government figures, Nigeria’s allocation is projected to fall by 50.2 per cent, from £136.62 million in 2025/26 to £68 million in 2028/29.
The reduction forms part of Britain’s wider decision to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027, down from the long-standing 0.7 per cent target. The government said the move is necessary to fund increased defence spending.
The Independent Commission for Aid Impact said UK aid spending overall is expected to decline by about 42 per cent over four years, with traditional bilateral programmes being sharply reduced in several developing countries.
Nigeria’s reduced allocation comes amid persistent humanitarian, health and development challenges, potentially increasing pressure on the government to strengthen domestic financing and reduce reliance on foreign assistance.
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