The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr, has reacted to the allegations that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, funded the Boko Haram terrorist group in the country.
Mr Mills who spoke with newsmen shortly after his presentation at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, meeting on Wednesday night in Abuja, said there is no evidence backing up the allegations.
The U.S. envoy said that Boko Haram had been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation since 2013, assuring that robust monitoring systems were in place to ensure that US assistance reach intended recipients.
He challenged anyone with evidence of misappropriation to present it, saying it will be thoroughly investigated in collaboration with Nigerian partners.
Mr Mills reiterated the U.S. commitment to Nigeria and its efforts to combat Boko Haram’s violence.
“There’s no friend of Nigeria that has been stronger in its condemnation of the violence of Boko Haram and Boko Haram contempt for human life than the United States.
“We labeled Boko Haram since 2013 a foreign terrorist organisation, a designation that was designed to block Boko Haram from carrying out any asset transfers to the united States.
“This allows us to arrest and seize members of Boko Haram, and allows us to cooperate in investigations with the Nigerian government.
“I can assure you, we have policies and procedures in place to ensure that USAID funding, any of our assistance funding, whether that comes from USAID, the Department of Defense, is not diverted to a terrorist group like Boko Haram.
“There is absolutely no evidence that I have seen that has occurred. And certainly if we ever had evidence presented to US that a programme funding was being diverted to Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate along with our Nigerian partners.
“I just want to be clear that when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that the organisation represents,” Mills said.
He also clarified that the US had not cut it financial aids to Nigeria, but put in a 90-day pause.
“In fact, the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said this is not about ending foreign assistance to our partners and friends like Nigeria.
“It’s about how to make the assistance more effective and how to make sure that it aligns with U.S. government policies and interests.
“So that’s what this 90-day pause is for in our assistance. But I think many of you have seen, I hope, that there are waivers.
“Waivers for our assistance that’s life-saving, that provides humanitarian, life-saving assistance, whether that’s to HIV patients or to mother and child nutrition needs, to internally displaced people,” Mills said.
Abacity.ng recalled a U.S Congressman, Representative Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, had in a viral video quoted the newly inaugurated Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, an agency headed by Elon Musk, of uncovering a suspicious transaction by the USAID.
The congressman claimed that USAID has been funding terrorists groups across the world, including Boko Haram, a terror group that had caused so much havoc in Nigeria.
Perry made this known on February 13, 2025, during a House hearing on USAID. The hearing, organised by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was meant to review the Trump administration’s funding freeze on USAID.
While condemning USAID, Perry exposed how billions in taxpayer money continue to reach terrorist organisations. He accused USAID of straying from its mission and financing groups threatening global security instead.
