If Leaders Put Nigeria First, Aid Might Not be Needed: Analyst
By Ebere Inyama
(Onitsha) Following the suspension of foreign assistance to Africa by the U.S. government, Nigeria may face hasher economic conditions and lesser access to improved healthcare, TruthNigeria has learned.
On his first day in the White House, precisely on Monday 20 January, 2025, the US president, Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders including a temporary suspension of all U.S. foreign aid programs for 90 days pending review
Speaking during an interview with TruthNigeria, economist and graduate of Imo State University, Mr. Godwin Chiemerie, said there is nothing wrong with President Trump’s decision to pause the giving of humanitarian aid to other countries for a period of 90 days.
“It is the prerogative of the government of the United States of America to decide when, how and to whom it will give financial aid,” Chiemerie began.
“United States of America is not a charity organization, and poor countries such as Nigeria should not expect to be given financial aid every year,” he went on to say.
“What happened to our natural resources? Why can’t out leaders explore these resources and channel the proceeds to programs and projects that would be of benefit to Nigerian citizens?,” he asked rhetorically.
Speaking further during the interview with TruthNigeria, Mr. Chiemerie faulted the bogus expenditure on luxury items by the Nigerian Government in 2023.
“Nigeria doesn’t have a revenue problem. Rather, what we have is a spending problem. It is hypocritical for the government to spend on luxuries while impoverished citizens suffer hardship caused by the president’s economic reforms,” he added.
“Does it make sense that our government would borrow money to finance their ostentatious lifestyles at a time when the president urged the poor people in the country to tighten their belts?” he asked.
Also reacting to the suspension order given by Trump, a political analyst, Jide Ojo expressed concern over its possible outcome.
“A lot of projects are being implemented under the U.S. government in many African countries, and Trump’s decision to suspend foreign aid will have a negative impact on interventions by the U.S. government in Africa and Nigeria”, he said while speaking with the local media.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu needs to review Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and put Nigeria first, taking a cue from Trump who is putting America first.
U.S. humanitarian aid to Nigeria in 2023
In the year 2023, Nigeria received a total of $1.02 billion in humanitarian aid from the United States of America.
This includes the allocation of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to support counterterrorism efforts, border and maritime security in Nigeria.
In addition to the humanitarian aid received from the US in 2023, the Nigerian government secured a total loan of $2.7 billion from the World Bank between June 2023 and December, 2023.
Nigeria’s income and expenditure in 2023
The Nigerian Government spent three times more than its revenue for the 2023 fiscal year leading to a deficit of N13.50 trillion
($8.3 billion), according to BudgIT’s analysis of the 2023 fiscal accounts from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The report revealed that while the Government’s revenue for the year was N5.99 trillion ($3.7billion), its spending amounted to N19.50 trillion ($12 billion), exceeding its income by 225 percent.
Misplaced priorities by the Nigerian government
In November, 2023, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu reportedly signed into law a $2.8 billion supplementary budget that includes funding for new bulletproof cars for himself and his wife.
The budget also included allocations for a presidential yacht, official vehicles for the first lady’s office, and renovations to the president’s residential quarters.
Later in December, 2023, the State House earmarked N9.5bn ( $5.8 million ) for the purchase of tires for operational vehicles and the construction of an office complex for the president’s aides.
Reactions by political analysts
In a post made via X in October, 2023, the Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, condemned the move by the Nigerian government to secure a World Bank loan to buy SUVs for members of the House of Representatives.
“There is a real problem when Nigeria is set to borrow another $1.5 billion from @WorldBank for budget support, and SUVs worth N160 million each are reportedly to be bought for 360 members of the House of Representatives. We are not yet serious as a country”, Moghalu wrote.
A precarious situation for Nigeria
More than 80 million Nigerians live on less than $2 a day, representing “the world’s second-largest poor population after India”, according to the World Bank.
There are also reports that 25 million people face food insecurity, displacement and limited healthcare due to economic instability and conflict in the northeast, and going by the fact that Nigeria is among the countries that are heavily reliant on U.S. aid, the long-term implications of this suspension order could leave the country in a precarious situation.
Ebere Inyama is an Imo state – based conflict reporter for TruthNigeria
