Tinubu’s Government Accused of Selling Out as EU Partnership Includes Rehabilitating Former Terrorists

A new partnership agreement between the European Union and the Nigerian government has triggered widespread outrage after a stunning clause was discovered buried in the text. The provision explicitly mentions the promotion of reintegration for former combatants, including associates of Boko Haram, the terrorist group that has killed tens of thousands of Nigerians and displaced millions over the past decade.

The revelation came when social media users began reading through the details of the upgraded relationship announced by the EU delegation in Nigeria. One user, Saskay, posted a screenshot of the clause with a simple but damning caption. “Promoting the reintegration of former combatants, including Boko Haram associates,” she wrote, adding that she was sorry but could not believe what she was seeing. The post quickly went viral, amassing over 165,000 views within hours.

SEE TWEET BELOW

So I decided to read about the EU’s partnership with Nigeria and saw this.

“Promoting the reintegration of former combatants, including Boko Haram associates”

I’m sorry what???? pic.twitter.com/Tng6ogoTgu

— Saskay (@officialsaskay) March 24, 2026

For many Nigerians, the idea of using international partnership funds to rehabilitate individuals linked to a group that once held territory, kidnapped schoolgirls, and carried out mass killings is not just unacceptable but deeply insulting. Families of victims of Boko Haram violence have long argued that justice and accountability must come before any talk of reintegration. The clause appears to suggest otherwise.

The EU’s announcement framed the upgraded relationship as a milestone, with promises of new Global Gateway investments. But the timing and content of the agreement have drawn sharp criticism from those who see it as yet another instance of foreign powers dictating terms to a struggling Nigerian government. Another user, Marked Safe from Western Propaganda, offered a more cynical take, arguing that the EU, having failed in its geopolitical ambitions elsewhere, had managed to rope Nigeria into buying worthless bonds that no one else would touch. He directed his anger at Nigerian officials, accusing them of selling the country out under the noses of its citizens.

What makes the situation even more explosive is the context. The same government that has accepted this partnership has also been borrowing heavily from foreign institutions while struggling to provide basic electricity and security for its citizens. Now it appears to have signed onto a program that mandates the rehabilitation of former terrorists while victims of those same terrorists continue to wait for justice, support, or even basic recognition of their suffering.

READ ALSO: Bola Tinubu Administration Accused of Enabling Terrorism as NSA Nuhu Ribadu Pushes Terrorist Reintegration with Western-Funded Ex-Fighter Programs

Neither the EU delegation nor the Nigerian government has issued a statement clarifying the clause or addressing the public backlash. But the silence itself is being interpreted as confirmation that the deal went through without adequate scrutiny or public debate.

For ordinary Nigerians, the idea that Boko Haram associates could be reintegrated with European funding while schools remain closed in some northern states and displaced families still live in camps feels like a betrayal. It raises a question that many are now asking: who exactly is this partnership meant to serve. If it is meant to help Nigeria heal, why does it seem to prioritize those who caused the wounds over those who have been bleeding for over a decade.

As the posts continue to circulate and more Nigerians dig into the details of the agreement, pressure is mounting on the government to explain why it accepted such a provision and what safeguards exist to ensure that the reintegration does not become a reward for terror. For now, the clause stands as a stark symbol of a partnership that many feel has lost touch with the reality of what Nigerians have endured.

READ MORE: Tinubu Hands Another $700 Million to Convicted Money Launderer Chagoury While His Son Sits on the Board

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