Richard Mills, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, has denied claims that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing financial support to terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Mills stressed that the United States has stringent policies to prevent any American financial support from being diverted to terrorist groups in remarks following a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja on Wednesday night. On February 13, US Congressman Scott Perry accused USAID of indirectly sponsoring organizations such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram, sparking the debate. Perry said that $697 million a year was being misappropriated during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.
“Who receives a portion of that money? Does anyone in the room recognize that name? Because of your money, your money, $697 million a year, plus the cash money that is shipped to terrorist training camps, Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, and ISIS Khorasan. It’s funding that,” he stated. The Nigerian Senate called for the directors of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as well as National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu to look into Perry’s assertions.
“There is no friend of Nigeria stronger in condemning Boko Haram’s violence and disregard for human life than the United States,” Mills said, adamantly rejecting any proof of misuse of USAID assistance. Since 2013, we have classified Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization, which prevents the group from sending assets to the United States and gives us the authority to detain and confiscate its members.
“We work with the Nigerian government on investigations. I can guarantee you that we have stringent protocols and processes in place to make sure that money from USAID or any other US assistance—whether it comes from the State Department, the Department of Defense, or USAID—does not end up in the hands of terrorist organizations like Boko Haram.Such diversion is completely unfounded, and we would look into it right away with our Nigerian colleagues if we ever received proof that Boko Haram was abusing any program funding. Therefore, the United States supports Nigeria in its efforts to eradicate the evil that Boko Haram stands for in this nation.
He promised that the US and Nigeria collaborate closely on counterterrorism initiatives and that the US will look into any proof of money being transferred right away in coordination with Nigerian officials. Mills clarified that there was merely a 90-day delay to reevaluate and enhance the efficacy of US aid programs in response to allegations that the Trump administration had reduced USAID funding.
“No decisions have been made regarding the future of our assistance, and no assistance has been cut yet,” he stated. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made it clear that the goal is not to stop aid but rather to improve its effectiveness and alignment with US interests. Mills also highlighted important priorities for US-Nigeria relations while talking about broader US engagement with the 36 state governors of Nigeria. “I told them we are going to concentrate on four major priorities in the upcoming years,” he said. The first is improving the business environment to increase trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria.
Second, a renewed emphasis on combating corruption, strengthening Nigerian voices calling for greater transparency, and enhancing accountability and transparency in Nigeria. Third, we want to be more involved with local governing bodies, states, and subnational levels. As we expand our support and programs, I think the embassy should get more involved in this area.Finally, we talked about our health care initiatives, which account for a significant portion of US aid to Nigeria. As these initiatives—like polio eradication and HIV case reduction—become successful, we want to make sure they continue and transfer them to the federal and state governments of Nigeria.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
