Daud Olatunji
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has vehemently denied accusations that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram or any other terrorist groups.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that Mills made the clarification following a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja on Wednesday night.
He addressed concerns raised by Congressman Scott Perry on February 13, who alleged that USAID funds were being used to support groups like Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda.
During a congressional hearing, Perry stated that USAID was involved in funding terrorist activities, a claim that sparked immediate controversy.
Mills, however, rejected these allegations, affirming that there is no evidence to support them. He reiterated that the US government has stringent policies to ensure that no USAID funds, or any US assistance, are diverted to terrorist organizations.
He said, “There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion, and if we ever had evidence that any programme funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners.”
The Ambassador further emphasized that the United States has been a staunch critic of Boko Haram, condemning the group’s violence and disregard for human life.
He noted that the US has designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization since 2013, which has allowed the US to block the group’s access to assets and facilitate arrests of its members.
Mills also responded to questions regarding the Trump administration’s pause on foreign assistance, clarifying that no aid had been cut.
Instead, the 90-day pause was implemented to reassess the effectiveness of US assistance, especially with regards to programmes such as HIV care, maternal health, and support for internally displaced people.
Mills reassured that life-saving aid would continue during this period.
In addition to discussing these issues, Mills outlined the future direction of US-Nigerian relations.
The focus, he said, would be on enhancing the business environment to foster trade and investment, tackling corruption, increasing transparency, and further developing healthcare programs in Nigeria.
He emphasized the need for these initiatives to be sustainable, with an eventual transition to Nigerian government management.
The Ambassador’s statements come at a time of heightened scrutiny over US foreign aid and its impact on the fight against terrorism.
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
