By Uche Onyeali
United States Mission to Nigeria has announced plans to commence investigation on how past aid allocated to Nigeria and other countries were utilised.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that US President, Donald Trump on January 20, suspended all foreign aid for 90 days over concerns about global destabilisation, especially by terrorists, and misalignment with American interests.
It would be recalled that a US Congressman, Scott Perry had recently come up with a damning revelation that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram, to the tune of $697 million annually.
The alarm elicited concerns by some security experts and diplomats in Nigeria, with a call for probe on the allegation.
Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, who gave the revelation during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, cited misappropriation of taxpayer funds to underhand projects in foreign countries.
According to Perry, USAID’s reported funding of $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan has yielded “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction.
He also questioned the allocation of $60 million annually for Women’s Scholarship Endowment and $5 million annually for Young Women Lead programme, suggesting that these funds might be used to support terrorism instead of empowering women.
Following rising calls for a comprehensive review of how USAID health funds had been spent, the US Mission in Nigeria in a post on its verified X handle yesterday confirmed ongoing efforts to track past assistance provided by the American government.
According to the post, “Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to help verify that U.S assistance reaches intended recipients.”
The Mission condemned the ongoing violence and loss of lives to the activities of terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, in Nigeria.
“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 declared.
It highlighted that Boko Haram was officially designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US Secretary of State on November 14, 2013, noting that the designation was to block the group’s assets, restrict its fundraising efforts, prosecute its members and prevent them from travelling to the United States.
The US government reaffirmed its commitment to work with Nigeria and regional partners to combat terrorism and enhance security in West Africa.
