ABUJA, Nigeria – Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar confirmed on Thursday that Nigeria is investigating claims suggesting that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is backing Boko Haram, though he stressed that the allegation remains unverified.
Speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series in Abuja, Tuggar emphasized that the government is treating the claim with utmost seriousness given the dignity of Nigeria and the critical nature of the fight against terrorism. “With regards to the dignity of Nigeria and this allegation, it’s not something that has been proven,” he said. “We know that politics is also played in the United States. They have partisan politics. It’s not our business. We’re not getting involved in their domestic politics.”
Tuggar underscored that Boko Haram has been significantly degraded by Nigerian security forces. He highlighted the Safe Corridor programme in Gombe, where former militants, combatants, and non-combatants are being assessed, reoriented, or tried as appropriate, and provided necessary support for their resettlement.
The minister also lauded Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategies, noting that the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has become a model for other nations, with countries like Somalia reportedly studying Nigeria’s approach to countering extremist threats. “Sometimes, we take for granted some of the homegrown solutions we come up with. The Multinational Joint Task Force is being studied by developed countries, asking, ‘How are these guys doing it?’” Tuggar remarked.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s longstanding contributions to regional peacekeeping efforts, including in Sierra Leone and Liberia, Tuggar urged Nigerians to acknowledge and build on the nation’s achievements in security and diplomacy. “We really need to start looking at ourselves differently… What we did with regards to peacebuilding in Sierra Leone, in Liberia, and what we’re doing now in the Northeast,” he said.
As Nigeria continues its intensive counterterrorism operations against Boko Haram, the investigation into the USAID allegation remains a sensitive matter, with government officials reiterating that the focus will remain on restoring security and stability to affected regions.
