Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the Nigerian Senate, has strongly asserted that Nigeria should not be relying on foreign aid, emphasizing that the country has sufficient resources to care for its citizens and even extend assistance to other nations.
According to him, Nigeria’s real issue is not a lack of wealth but poor leadership.
His remarks come amid a major shake-up in U.S. international aid policies under the Trump administration. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been expelled, with Trump’s administration branding it a “criminal organization.”
Elon Musk, a billionaire aide to Trump and head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has taken drastic steps to seize control of USAID, condemning it as “evil” and accusing it of harboring radical-left elements opposed to America’s interests.
Adding to the controversy, U.S. Congressman Scott Perry accused USAID of funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram. During the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, Perry alleged that the agency had funneled $136 million into building 120 schools in Pakistan—an initiative he suggested was misdirected.
Against this backdrop, Ndume, speaking on Channels Television, reinforced his stance that Nigeria should not be dependent on foreign aid. He argued that, given the country’s natural and human resources, people from other nations should be seeking opportunities in Nigeria, not the other way around.
“What I’m saying is that the security and welfare of Nigerian citizens is the responsibility of the government. It is not the responsibility of any other government or any other country,” Ndume stated.
He further criticized Nigeria’s reliance on international aid, calling it a damaging dependency.
“This issue of relying on aid from other countries is not even good for us. By now, Nigeria is supposed to be the one giving aid, not receiving it. So why don’t we? This should be a wake-up call for all of us to stand up. We have everything we need. The only problem is leadership. Once we fix that, we can tap into our resources and be self-sufficient.”
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Reminiscing about a different era, Ndume lamented the shift in Nigeria’s global standing.
“I remember that in those days, foreigners were coming here to teach in secondary and even primary schools as expatriates. But now, Nigerians are struggling to leave the country, doing menial jobs abroad just to survive.”
His comments add to the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s economic trajectory and the role of foreign aid in national development.