The Senate has summoned the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the heads of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over allegations of terrorist funding against the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The controversy stems from a viral video featuring U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, who alleged during a congressional hearing that USAID had indirectly financed terrorist activities across the world, including in Nigeria.
Perry’s statement comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. foreign aid policies.
The lawmaker, a member of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, accused USAID of inadvertently supporting extremist groups through its annual budget of $697 million.
He cited concerns over cash flows to Islamic schools (madrasas), which he claimed had facilitated terrorist training.
However, Nigeria lawmakers on Wednesday issued summons after a motion was raised by Senator Ali Ndume, calling for an urgent investigation into the claims.
During the plenary, lawmakers expressed concerns over the US Congressman, Scott Perry, viral video alleging that USAID has been involved in financing terrorist groups across the world, including Boko Haram.
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Ndume noted that this claim comes shortly after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, raised alarm that terrorist groups in the country were receiving sponsorship and training from international organisations.
The freeze in aid funding by Donald Trump’s new US administration has left humanitarian workers seeing a large proportion of their budget cut off and fearing millions will be affected as programmes are suspended.
On January 24, four days after Trump returned to power, NGOs linked to the USAID received a first letter asking them to cease all activities funded by the agency.
The new administration has launched stinging attacks on USAID — which Trump claimed was “run by radical lunatics” and his ally and advisor, the world’s richest person Elon Musk, has described as a “criminal organisation”.
