Nigerian Senate Summons Security Chiefs Over Alleged USAID Funding of Boko Haram

The Nigerian Senate has summoned the heads of the National Security Adviser, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency to address allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram.

The decision followed a motion raised by Senator Ali Ndume, urging an urgent investigation into claims that international organizations, including USAID, may be providing financial support to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria. Lawmakers voiced their concerns during plenary after a video surfaced showing U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, alleging at a congressional hearing that USAID has been involved in financing terrorist activities globally, including Boko Haram.

Senator Ndume highlighted that the allegation aligns with recent warnings from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who had raised concerns that terrorist groups in Nigeria receive sponsorship and training from international organizations.

The accusations against USAID gained traction after Perry claimed that the agency’s annual budget of $697 million, which includes financial aid to Islamic schools (madrasas), has inadvertently funded terrorist training camps and extremist groups. Perry made these statements during the inaugural session of an advisory body established under former U.S. President Donald Trump to scrutinize and potentially reduce U.S. government spending.

Perry, a member of the Republican Party, has been vocal in his criticism of USAID, aligning with Trump’s broader stance on foreign aid. In January, Trump suspended all foreign aid for 90 days, stating that the pause was necessary to assess whether such funding aligns with America’s national interests. Critics, however, have accused Trump of attempting to undermine institutions like USAID and disrupt their global operations.