US Ambassador denies allegations of USAID funding terrorism in Nigeria

By Kunle Sanni

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has strongly denied claims that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides funding to Boko Haram or any other terrorist organization.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja on Wednesday night, Mills dismissed the allegations, stating that there is no evidence to support such claims.

According to a report by Channels TV, the official reaffirmed the U.S. government’s stance against terrorism, emphasizing that no country condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the United States.

Mills also assured that if any credible evidence of such funding were found, the U.S. would collaborate with the Nigerian government to investigate the matter.

“There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion, and if we ever had evidence that any program funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners,” Mills said.

“We cooperate in investigations with the Nigerian government. I can assure you that we have strict policies and procedures to ensure that USAID funding or any other U.S. assistance, whether from USAID, the Department of Defense, or the State Department, is not diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.

“So, when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that this organization represents.

“Let me be clear—there is no friend of Nigeria stronger in condemning Boko Haram’s violence and disregard for human life than the United States.

“We have designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organization since 2013, blocking the group from transferring assets to the U.S. and allowing us to arrest and seize its members.”