The designation followed findings in the US Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, which identified Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as groups recruiting and using children in armed activities in Nigeria. The report covers the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
The United States has placed Nigeria on its Child Soldiers Prevention Act blacklist, warning that the country could lose access to military training, weapons sales, defence financing and other security assistance over the continued recruitment and use of children by armed groups.
The designation followed findings in the US Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, which identified Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as groups recruiting and using children in armed activities in Nigeria. The report covers the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
Nigeria was among 14 countries placed on the list, alongside Russia, Iran, South Sudan and Somalia. Under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA), the designation could trigger restrictions on certain forms of American military assistance unless US President Donald Trump grants a waiver or an applicable legal exception applies.
According to PUNCH, the US report stated that the restrictions cover International Military Education and Training, Foreign Military Financing, Excess Defence Articles, certain peacekeeping assistance and licences for direct commercial sales of military equipment.
It said the measures would take effect from October 1, subject to a presidential waiver, an applicable exception or the reinstatement of assistance under the law.
The report also raised concerns about the activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP, which it accused of recruiting, abducting and using children as young as 12.
It said the children were forced into roles including cooking, domestic work, spying, carrying messages, guarding checkpoints and participating in combat, while some were used as suicide bombers.
Beyond the child soldier allegations, the report said Nigeria had failed to meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking for the 15th consecutive year.
It also raised concerns about official complicity in trafficking crimes, noting that the government had not reported investigations, prosecutions or convictions of government employees allegedly involved in such offences.
The document further reported a decline in the number of trafficking victims who received government assistance, from 2,058 in the previous reporting period to 675.
It also criticised conditions in government-run shelters, stating that restrictions on residents’ freedom of movement affected children’s access to education.
The designation comes as Nigeria and the United States continue security cooperation, including efforts to combat terrorism in the North-East.
Any restrictions on military assistance could affect aspects of that partnership, depending on the programmes involved and whether the US administration grants an exemption.
Nigeria’s position on the list does not automatically mean that all American military assistance will end.
The extent of any restrictions will depend on the provisions of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act and whether the US government grants a waiver or applies an exception.
