IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
Senator Mohamed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to investigate claims made by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was involved in funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram.
Ndume made this call during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’, where he emphasized the gravity of the allegations. He insisted that such claims should not be dismissed lightly, given longstanding suspicions that some foreign humanitarian agencies operating in Nigeria’s insurgency-stricken North-East might have been involved in funding terrorist activities.
“You can’t say it’s just an allegation; it’s more than that,” Ndume stated. “That’s why the Nigerian government and the National Assembly, especially, need to look into it to investigate and verify the veracity of such a very weighty allegation.”
The lawmaker highlighted the devastating impact of Boko Haram, noting that the group had not only ravaged the North-East but also carried out attacks in other parts of the country, including the bombing of the police headquarters and the United Nations office in Abuja.
“This development is very worrisome, especially because one of the terrorist organizations mentioned by Scott Perry is Boko Haram,” Ndume said. “The Nigerian government must be interested in this revelation.”
Ndume recalled past instances where security agencies had raised concerns about some foreign NGOs operating in the region. He cited a raid carried out by the Nigerian Army during Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai’s tenure on an office linked to USAID or the United Nations in Maiduguri. He also mentioned an incident where the Borno State government acted on intelligence and security operatives raided an NGO that was allegedly providing firearms training to its staff.
“We have been wondering for all these years where these people are getting money,” he added.
Beyond the need for an investigation, Ndume argued that Nigeria should be in a position to provide aid rather than being dependent on foreign assistance. He lamented the nation’s reliance on foreign aid, particularly in a region where over 50,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in nearly two decades of insurgency.
“This issue of relying on aid from other countries is not even good for us because Nigeria, by now, is supposed to be the one that is giving out aid and not receiving aid,” he asserted.
Ndume urged Nigerian leaders to take charge of the country’s resources and governance, saying, “This is like a wake-up call for all of us in government. We have everything; the only problem is the leadership. We need to fix that so that we’ll tap into what we have and be content.”
The call for an investigation comes amid broader concerns over the activities of international NGOs and the need for greater scrutiny of foreign aid operations in Nigeria’s conflict zones. The Federal Government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
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