“There is no evidence that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group,” the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said.
To solidify that denial, the Commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), Gen James Hecker, said the U.S. Air Force would carry out airstrikes against terrorist targets across Africa.
In the fight against insecurity, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa, has said that the military and media must work together, adding that both institutions serve critical functions in national development and stability.
In a chat with journalists after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that lasted till the early hours of yesterday in Abuja, Mills also made it clear that “the U.S. stands strongly with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.”
The meeting had Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Umaru Namadi of Jigawa and Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Balarabe, among others. Mills assured the U.S. government would work with the Nigerian government to investigate the allegation.
Last week, Sen Scott Perry had alleged that USAID was funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.
In a communiqué released after the meeting, the NGF confirmed that governors engaged with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, who shared his vision for a renewed and dynamic partnership between Nigeria and the U.S.
According to the document, Mills highlighted a shift from a donor-recipient model to one of mutual collaboration and underscored the importance of fostering economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The governors welcomed this renewed approach and emphasised the critical role of states in driving economic and social development.
NGF disclosed that it received a brief from the Minister of Women Affairs on the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) Scale-Up, expanding nationwide from its initial six-state implementation.
HECKER disclosed USAF’s avowal to hit terrorists at a virtual news conference while attending the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium (AACS), in Lusaka, Zambia yesterday.
The conference was organised to enable Hecker to discuss U.S. commitments to military partnerships with African nations and AACS operations.
He said terrorist groups like Islamic State of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) were high-value targets that threatened African nations and the U.S. and would be targeted by the U.S., as it recently did against ISIS in Somalia.
On how the USAF can help the Nigerian military achieve air superiority over the terrorists, he said the U.S. had already been supporting Nigeria.
“The U.S. Government has provided training and equipment to Nigeria for quite a while, so hopefully that will help them out,” he added.
MUSA said the need for synergy between the military and the media had never been more pressing than in this era of insurgency, and evolving security threats in the country.
The CDS spoke, yesterday, at a symposium organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council.
Represented at the event by Brig-Gen Mohammed Kanah, the One Div. Garrison Commander, at the symposium entitled, ‘The Future of Journalism Practice in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects’, remarked, “In today’s rapidly changing security environment, the media plays an indispensable role in shaping public perception, disseminating vital information, and fostering national unity.
“The relationship between the military and the media, therefore, cannot be overstated, as both institutions serve critical functions in national development and stability. The need for synergy between the military and the media has never been more pressing than in this era of asymmetric warfare, insurgency and evolving security threats.”
According to him, while the military is tasked with protecting national sovereignty and maintaining law and order, the media serves as the watchdog of society, ensuring accountability and transparency.
“To achieve this synergy, there is a need for continuous engagement, capacity-building and mutual respect between the military and the media. The media must be empowered with accurate and timely information to counter false narratives that may undermine national security.
“Likewise, the military must appreciate the crucial role of the media in nation-building and adopt a more open and transparent communication approach. Establishing structured communication channels, conducting regular workshops and enhancing media literacy within the security sector will go a long way in bridging the gap and fostering trust between these two entities,” he added.
