The Nigerian Senate has summoned key security chiefs, including National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), over alarming allegations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) may have indirectly funded Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in Nigeria.
The summons follows a viral video in which U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, accused USAID of inadvertently financing global terrorism. Perry, speaking during a congressional hearing, alleged that the agency’s $697 million budget had, in some cases, ended up in the hands of extremist groups through funding channeled to certain Islamic schools (madrasas), which he claimed served as recruitment and training grounds for terrorists.
His claims have reignited concerns within Nigeria’s security architecture, aligning with earlier warnings from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who previously stated that some international organisations were facilitating financial and logistical support for terrorist networks in the country.
In response, Senator Ali Ndume raised an urgent motion on the Senate floor, prompting lawmakers to demand immediate clarification from top security officials. The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) have also been summoned to provide insights into these allegations and determine the extent of any foreign involvement in Nigeria’s security crisis.
This development comes against the backdrop of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial decision in January to suspend all foreign aid for 90 days, citing concerns over whether such funds were serving American interests or unintentionally fueling global instability. While Trump’s stance faced criticism for allegedly undermining international institutions like USAID, Perry’s recent allegations suggest that concerns over misallocated aid remain unresolved.
The Senate’s move underscores Nigeria’s growing frustration with external interference in its internal security affairs and raises critical questions about the oversight of foreign aid programs in conflict-ridden regions. The summoned officials are expected to provide a detailed briefing on any potential links between foreign funding and terrorist activities in Nigeria.
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