Boko Haram funding: Reps dissect US Congressman’s allegation, task FG on external influence 

The House of Representatives has constituted a special ad hoc committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations by United States of America’s Congressman, Scott Perry, that the USAID was involved in the sponsorship of Boko Haram and some extremist groups in Nigeria.

The House has also requested the federal government to engage with the U.S. government through the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to obtain a formal clarification on the matter.

 It mandated the special committees to investigate the activities of nongovernment organisations in Nigeria, their real identities, sources of funding, and on what they expend their money on.

Also in its resolution Thursday, the House urged the media and the general public to remain vigilant and provide useful information that could assist security agencies in their efforts to combat terrorism.

This was fallout of a motion sponsored under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Inuwa Garba who observed that “scores of patriotic Nigerians have expressed deep concerns over the activities of NGOs who traverse the nooks and crannies of Northern Nigeria, where the military dare not operate.

Addressing journalists, the lawmaker described the allegations as “deeply troubling and warrant thorough investigation as Nigeria has suffered devastation from the effects of activities of Boko Haram and other extremist groups for more than a decade.”

He said available statistics have showed that USAID spent about $2.7 billion in Nigeria between 2022 and 2024, adding that while the allegations remained unverified, it cast a shadow on the USAID, which said it was in the business of assisting people.

The lawmaker said he had confidence in the committee under the leadership of chairman of the House Committee on NGOs, Hon. Victor Uguzor, to do justice to its mandate.

He said: “The allegation, if true, raises serious national and international security concerns and questions about external influences on Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, which has led to significant loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of over one million citizens over the years.”