The United States government has launched an investigation into foreign aid allocated to Nigeria, following claims that funds may have been used to support terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram. The probe comes after US President Donald Trump suspended all foreign aid for 90 days on January 20, 2025, citing concerns about global destabilization and misalignment with American interests.
The controversy escalated when US Congressman Scott Perry, during a congressional hearing on February 13, 2025, alleged that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) may have indirectly funded terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram.
“Who gets some of that money? Your money, $697 million annually, plus shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” Perry stated.
The US Mission in Nigeria, in a post on X, confirmed that the government has monitoring mechanisms to track aid utilization and ensure it reaches the intended beneficiaries. It also reaffirmed its condemnation of Boko Haram’s violence and emphasized its commitment to counterterrorism efforts in the region.
Boko Haram, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the US in 2013, has been responsible for over a decade of brutal attacks in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.
While the investigation is ongoing, the US government has reiterated its support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts and pledged to ensure that no US assistance funds are misused.
