The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, under tech mogul Elon Musk, has terminated $84,000 (N130 million) in funding to massage parlours in Nigeria as the Donald Trump administration continues to curb government spending.
Late Monday, DOGE cancelled $51 million funding previously allocated by the U.S. African Development Foundation earmarked for a mango-drying project, spa centres, and shea butter marketing across various African countries.
In Nigeria, DOGE terminated $84,059 earmarked for “a business incubator spa & wellness entrepreneurs.”
It remains unclear whether this was a one-off grant or part of a recurring funding programme.
Mr Musk’s DOGE similarly halted $239,738 funding intended for marketing pineapple juice in the Republic of Benin and another $246,217 set aside for mango drying facilities in Ivory Coast.
In Burkina Faso, a $229,296 aid that should have gone into marketing pure organic shea butter was scrapped, while in Senegal, $50,000 earmarked for dragonfruit farmer training was withdrawn.
Mr Musk’s DOGE further cancelled “$99,566 to increase yoghurt production in Uganda” and “$48,406 for a WhatsApp marketing chatbot in Kenya.”
The USADF is a Congress-backed agency that issues grants to support African entrepreneurs at the grassroots level but DOGE’s cancellation of its funds will impair the foundation’s ability to function at full capacity.
