June 17, 2022

Nigeria and the United States should collaborate more as there is a need for more concerted efforts to effectively tackle the spread of terrorism, especially in the Sahel region, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

In a statement by the VP’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, on Friday, Osinbajo stated this on Thursday when he received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the visiting Under Secretary for Political Affairs, US State Department, Victoria Nuland, alongside a US delegation including its Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard.

The significance of free, fair and peaceful elections, improving security in the Sahel region, and the adoption of gas as a transition fuel in developing countries, among other issues of mutual interests, were discussed at the meeting.

Highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to tackling terrorism in the region and Sahel, the VP noted that the spread of terrorist organisations such as ISWAP, and Boko Haram should be tackled ‘firmly and permanently.’

Commending the US government for providing support to Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram and terrorism – with the delivery of the first batch of Super Tucano jets and the proposed purchase of 12 AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria, the Vice President stated that the cooperation between the two countries has been “extremely fruitful and rewarding, especially for us.”

The Vice President also noted President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s commitment to tackling the country’s security challenges and ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections.

“So far, we have seen peaceful elections in the primaries… and as we go along, we will get a firmer grip of the security issues; we must thank you for the cooperation of the American government, that we see so far,” he said.

Restating the need to designate gas as a transition fuel in the global net-zero emissions target by 2060, Osinbajo noted the importance of climate financing in helping African countries tackle the effects of climate change and poverty.

Also highlighting Nigeria’s energy transition plan, which proposes the adoption of gas as a transition fuel, the VP said “we cannot afford at this point, to defund gas projects in developing countries, especially countries such as ours where we have huge hydrocarbon and gas deposits and made a way for us to transit, and at the same time address poverty and other challenges. This is an area I think we can also work jointly and collaboratively in seeking solutions.”

In her remarks, the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, acknowledged Nigeria’s advocacy for the use of gas as a transition fuel.

“You are absolutely right about gas; I’ve worked a lot on the response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Europeans now understand as they try to cut their dependence on Moscow that they need alternative democratic sources of gas and they are waking up to the fact that Nigeria and others countries can fill that gap needed,” Nuland stated.

She also commended the Vice President for his role in the country’s economic development and the green transition.

“I also want to underscore your role in the economic development of the country and the green transition. And I hope you will give us a sense of the work that you are undertaking now as you strengthen Nigeria’s future obviously through a gas transition to a solar and other green superpowers on this continent and beyond.”

Underscoring the important bilateral relations between the US and Nigeria, Nuland further noted that it was “crucial that Nigeria’s democracy continues to prosper and grow.”

“We have been talking a lot about the upcoming elections and President Buhari’s very important and courageous decision to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power. And we very much look forward from the United States in supporting free, fair and peaceful elections.

“We have to commend the fact that the Government and the President have been sending the message that this needs to be a free and fair election, one that heals and binds the country and one that is safe and secure.”

Nuland, also noted that the US was also very proud of its work with Nigeria in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic (the US government provided millions of doses of vaccines to Nigeria).

Other members of the US delegation included the Deputy Assistant Secretary for West African Affairs, Mike Gonzales; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence, Archie Barrett, among others.