Aid cuts from the United States could advance terrorism in Nigeria

Business Insider

2 days ago

Aid agencies have warned that aid cuts from the United States to Nigeria could push more people into the hands of terrorist organizations in the Northern region of Nigeria.
Aid agencies warn cuts to U.S. assistance in Nigeria may increase terrorism recruitment.
The United Nations' WFP reduced rations following a funding decrease from the U.S.
President Trump's America First policy impacted global humanitarian aid funding.
In recent months, the United Nations' World Food Programme has trimmed down rations to Nigeria owing to a drop in funding from the United States.
"It will be much easier for militants to lure youths to join them and spiral insecurity across the whole region," Trust Mlambo, head of operations in the area for WFP, told the BBC.
Since assuming office, U.S. President Donald Trump has embarked on an aggressive campaign to cut wasteful spending, in what he described as an America First policy.
The initiative has had a negative impact on humanitarian support for destitute and war-torn nations.
On January 20, 2025, an executive order put a 90-day hold on all US foreign development assistance, leading to the widespread suspension of aid programs.
Till today, the United States still insists on drastically reducing the amount of aid sent to other countries.
In keeping with President Donald Trump's America First idea, the US State Department admitted that certain changes have been made as a result of its recent restructuring of humanitarian aid programs.
"The United States continues to be the most generous nation in the world, and we urge other nations to increase their humanitarian efforts," a senior State Department official stated.
80% of US government assistance to the WFP has not been impacted, as seen in a report by the BBC.
This year, the WFP has already seen a rise in malnutrition rates in Nigeria due to a decrease in funding from all donors.
The number of children suffering from the most severe and fatal kind of malnutrition more than doubled over the first half of the year, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
"Six-hundred-and-fifty-two children have already died in our facilities since the beginning of 2025 due to lack of timely access to care," the medical charity said.