US Aid Withdrawal Cripples Northeast School

A school in Maiduguri, Borno State, that has long served as a beacon of hope for children displaced and traumatized by Boko Haram’s insurgency, is now facing an uncertain future following the withdrawal of U.S. aid.

For years, the institution provided free education, psychosocial support, and meals to hundreds of children whose families had been uprooted by the conflict. However, after U.S. funding was cut earlier this year, the school has been forced to shut down most of its operations.

According to school authorities, over 700 students have been sent home, while more than 20 teachers and support staff have lost their jobs. Many of the affected children now risk being left idle in camps and vulnerable communities, where the threat of radicalization and exploitation remains high.

Parents expressed deep concern over the closure. “This school gave our children a sense of normal life. Without it, I don’t know what will happen to them,” said Aisha Musa, a mother of two students.

Education advocates have described the situation as a setback for Nigeria’s efforts to rebuild the northeast and protect its most vulnerable children. They urged both federal and state governments, as well as international donors, to step in and prevent a total collapse of the program.

Civil society groups warn that if urgent action is not taken, thousands of children across Borno and neighboring states could lose access to safe learning spaces, further aggravating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. government has yet to provide a detailed explanation for the funding withdrawal, but analysts link it to broader shifts in American foreign aid priorities.