The Nigerian government has responded to the United States’ decision to stop foreign aid by looking for new ways to raise money for economic growth.
An authoritative source to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, speaking to The Nation on condition of anonymity, said that Nigeria sees this policy as an opportunity rather than a setback.
“The Trump aid policy is nothing but an incentive for us to double our efforts to be creative in raising resources to boost our economic growth and development,” the source said.
The official explained that while foreign aid has been useful, Nigeria is now prioritizing international partnerships and foreign investments.
“In a globalized world, collaboration between developed (North) and developing (South) countries is essential,” the source said. “The North has grown its economy, and the South still needs support to develop its own.”
However, the government believes that Nigeria must focus on long-term partnerships rather than relying on aid.
“While we are willing to leverage foreign support to fill gaps, our main priority is attracting foreign investments and partnerships that will help us grow our economy in a sustainable way,” the official added.
One area of concern is funding for HIV programmes, which rely heavily on donor support.
The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, said the government was already working on ways to fund HIV programmes locally.
“The Nigerian government will intensify domestic resource mobilization strategies to ensure the sustainability of the HIV response,” Ilori stated.
She explained that this would help reduce the risk of sudden donor aid cuts affecting HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
“Through effective stakeholder collaboration, favourable policies, and advocacy to policymakers, Nigeria can still achieve the target of ending AIDS by 2030,” she added.
On January 20, after taking office, President Trump signed an executive order suspending foreign aid for 90 days.
The order stated that no U.S. aid would be given unless it aligns with American foreign policy and values.
