The United States government has reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitoring and evaluating aid allocated to Nigeria and other countries. This assurance comes after US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend all foreign aid for 90 days, citing concerns about global destabilization and misalignment with American interests.

The move is also in response to growing calls for a comprehensive review of US Agency for International Development (USAID) health funds. Republican Representative Perry from Pennsylvania had claimed that USAID financed terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, through annual funds amounting to $697 million.

The US Mission to Nigeria has confirmed that monitoring systems are in place to track past assistance provided by the US government. The Mission also strongly condemned the ongoing violence and loss of life caused by Boko Haram in Nigeria.

“The Secretary of State designated Boko Haram a Foreign Terrorist Organization on November 14, 2013, to block the organization’s assets and fundraising efforts, prosecute individual members, and restrict their travel to the United States,” the US Mission stated.

Senator Ndume from Borno, the epicenter of the Boko Haram onslaught, has urged the federal government to investigate the claim and focus on becoming self-sufficient rather than relying on foreign aid.

Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa has called on the United Nations to investigate the funding and training of Boko Haram terrorists, citing international conspiracy in providing the group with funds, training, and equipment.

“The UN needs to come in because we need to trace the funding. It is an international flow, and we don’t have control over that,” General Musa said.