The United States government has firmly denied claims that its development agency, USAID, has been funding Boko Haram or any other terrorist organisation.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, addressed the issue on Wednesday during a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja. He stated that no evidence supports the allegation and reaffirmed the US’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria.
“There is absolutely no proof that any USAID funds have been diverted to Boko Haram. If such evidence ever emerges, we will collaborate with the Nigerian government to investigate immediately,” Mills assured.
He emphasised that the US has strict measures to prevent any financial assistance, whether from USAID, the State Department, or the Department of Defence, from reaching terrorist groups. He also highlighted that the US designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2013, blocking its access to assets and enabling enforcement actions against its members.
The controversy stems from allegations made by US Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who accused USAID of inadvertently funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS.
Speaking at a congressional hearing on February 13, Perry claimed that USAID’s $697 million annual budget, which includes financial support for Islamic schools (madrasas), might have been exploited to fund extremist training camps.
Reacting to these claims, the Nigerian Senate has summoned key security officials to address the issue.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, along with the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed, and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, are expected to appear before lawmakers in a closed-door session.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision on Wednesday, following a motion by Borno South Senator Ali Ndume.
Ndume stressed the importance of verifying the allegations, citing Boko Haram’s prolonged insurgency despite Nigeria’s extensive counterterrorism investments.
Borno Central Senator Kaka Shehu supported the motion, noting that past legislative investigations into Boko Haram’s funding had not yielded conclusive results.
Bauchi Central Senator Abdul Ningi also underscored the need for security agencies to clarify the matter.
The motion received broad support in the Senate, prompting the leadership to move forward with the inquiry.
