The United States government has announced plans to investigate how past foreign aid, particularly through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has been spent in Nigeria and other countries. This decision follows President Donald Trump’s January 20, 2025, directive to suspend all foreign aid for 90 days, citing concerns over global destabilization and the potential misuse of American resources.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The investigation stems from growing demands for accountability regarding the use of USAID funds, especially in the health sector. During a hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, raised allegations that USAID funds may have indirectly supported terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram. Perry claimed that these funds, estimated at $697 million annually, could have been channeled to groups like Boko Haram, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist training camps.
The U.S. Mission to Nigeria responded to these allegations, issuing a statement reaffirming its commitment to ensuring aid funds reach legitimate recipients. The statement emphasized that comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to verify that U.S. assistance reaches the intended recipients. The Mission also condemned the violence committed by Boko Haram and other terrorist organizations, noting that Boko Haram had been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2013.
In addition, international human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe wrote to Congressman Perry, urging him to retract the allegations, arguing that such claims could endanger the lives of U.S. diplomats and aid workers operating in Nigeria.
The suspension of aid has sparked concerns among development agencies, with warnings that a prolonged freeze could severely disrupt critical health, education, and humanitarian programs across Africa. Despite the suspension, the U.S. government has reiterated its ongoing collaboration with Nigeria and regional partners to combat terrorism.
This investigation into the misuse of foreign aid underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in international aid programs, particularly in regions prone to conflict and extremism.
