“Today, INSO received a formal request from Nigerian authorities to suspend its humanitarian activities in the country,” said INSO Nigeria director Zeljko Toncic.
President Bola Tinubu’s government has ordered the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) to immediately suspend its humanitarian services and exit Nigeria. INSO Nigeria director Zeljko Toncic confirmed, “Today, INSO received a formal request from Nigerian authorities to suspend its humanitarian activities in the country,” adding the organisation is complying fully.
INSO, which has supported NGOs across Nigeria since 2016, faces suspension amid accusations tying its USAID funding to Boko Haram activities. Critics warn the move signals a broader clampdown on humanitarian groups amid government concerns over NGO roles in insecurity.
In March, the government initiated probes after U.S. Congressman Scott Perry alleged USAID funds inadvertently supported Boko Haram. The inquiry met resistance from NGOs who decried it as an infringement on their operations.
Previously, states like Zamfara and Borno have banned NGOs over similar security and regulatory concerns. INSO has also curtailed training services after U.S. suspension of USAID funding, which accounted for 37% of its global budget.