February 20, (THEWILL) – The United States government has refuted claims that its development aid to Nigeria is being funneled to finance terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
The response follows allegations by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, who claimed that funds provided by the United States Agency for International Development were being used to support terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda.
Perry, while defending the Trump administration’s decision to halt aid to certain nations, alleged, “Your money, $697 million annually, plus cash shipments, is funding terrorism. It’s coming through USAID, and it’s not just Afghanistan—Pakistan is right next door.”
Reacting to the claims, the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday resolved to investigate the matter, summoning National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, alongside the heads of the Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, and Defence Intelligence Agency .
Addressing the controversy, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills dismissed the allegations, insisting that the U.S. has stringent measures in place to prevent aid from reaching terrorist organizations.
Speaking after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in Abuja, Mills said, “Let me be clear: The United States has been Nigeria’s strongest partner in combating Boko Haram and condemning its violence. We designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization in 2013, blocking its access to assets in the U.S. and enabling the arrest of its operatives.”
Mills emphasised that there is no evidence that U.S. funds, including those from USAID, the Department of Defense, or the State Department, are being diverted to terrorist groups.
“If we ever had evidence that any program funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it alongside our Nigerian partners,” he assured.
Reaffirming Washington’s commitment to Nigeria’s security, Mills said, “The U.S. stands with Nigeria in eradicating Boko Haram and ensuring that no assistance is exploited by terrorist elements.”
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