The United States government has initiated plans to review how previous foreign aid, including funds allocated to Nigeria, has been spent.
This development follows President Donald Trump’s decision on January 20, 2025, to suspend all U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, citing concerns over its effectiveness and alignment with American interests.
The scrutiny intensified after U.S. Congressman Scott Perry alleged that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had inadvertently funded terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, made these claims during the first session of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency last Thursday.
Boko Haram, officially known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, has been responsible for widespread violence in Nigeria and neighbouring countries, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths over the past 15 years.
In response to Perry’s allegations, the U.S. Mission to Nigeria clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that strict monitoring mechanisms are in place to track American aid and ensure it reaches its intended recipients.
“The United States condemns the violence and blatant disregard for human life perpetrated by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria and the region,” the statement read.
The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to counterterrorism efforts, emphasizing that Boko Haram was officially designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization on November 14, 2013, to limit its access to financial and logistical resources.
Washington has pledged to collaborate with Nigeria and regional partners to strengthen counterterrorism measures and ensure that foreign assistance is effectively managed.