US places Nigeria among countries allowing recruitment of child soldiers
The United States has placed Nigeria on its 2026 list of countries whose governments are identified as having armed forces, security forces or government-supported militias that recruit or use child soldiers, exposing the country to restrictions on certain US military assistance and equipment sales.
The designation, contained in the US State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, means Nigeria could face restrictions on specific security assistance and commercial licences for military equipment from 1 October, unless the restrictions are waived or an applicable exception is granted by US President Donald Trump.
Under the CSPA, a child soldier includes anyone under 18 who is compulsorily recruited into government armed forces or security forces, as well as children recruited or used in hostilities by armed forces distinct from a state’s military.
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