Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has urged the Federal Government to investigate claims made by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allegedly funded terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Ndume dismissed the notion that Perry’s claims were mere allegations, stressing that the government must verify the credibility of such a serious accusation.
“The Nigerian government and the National Assembly must investigate and verify the veracity of such a very weighty allegation,” he said.
Ndume, a long-serving lawmaker, noted that suspicions regarding foreign humanitarian organizations funding terrorism in Nigeria’s insurgency-affected North-East have existed for years.
“This development is very worrisome, especially because one of the terrorist organizations mentioned by Scott Perry is Boko Haram. Boko Haram has ravaged not only the North-East but other parts of Nigeria,” he said, recalling the group’s attacks on Abuja’s police headquarters and the United Nations office.
The senator cited past incidents where Nigerian security forces acted on intelligence regarding suspicious NGO activities. He recalled instances when the Nigerian Army and state authorities raided NGO offices in Maiduguri, suspecting them of aiding terrorist groups.
“We have been wondering for all these years where these people are getting money,” Ndume added.
He also lamented Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid, stating that the country should be self-sufficient and capable of offering assistance to others.
“This issue of relying on aid from other countries is not even good for us. Nigeria, by now, is supposed to be the one giving out aid, not receiving it. We need to fix our leadership, tap into our resources, and be content,” he said.
Ndume’s call for an investigation comes amid long-standing concerns about the role of foreign aid agencies in conflict zones. The Federal Government has yet to officially respond to Perry’s claims.
