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Washington DC (CABNCTV) – In what many observers described as a positive diplomatic interactions, the Trump Administration led by Secretary Mike Pompeo met with Nigeria’s top diplomats led by Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyema announced that, the U.S. is committed to spend $40 million in humanitarian assistance.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who announced the U.S. humanitarian gesture during a joint press briefing with his counterpart Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama said “Nigeria is already America’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. U.S. companies from Google to Chevron to KPMG invested over a billion dollars in Nigeria in 2018 alone, creating over 18,000 jobs and indirectly supporting 3 million others”.
CABNCTV Correspondent reports that, U.S Secretary of State Mike said “we’re pleased, too, that President Muhammadu Buhari has prioritized that fight against corruption”. In support of that fight, I am announcing today that the United States and Nigeria have signed an agreement to return to the Nigerian people more than $308 million in assets stolen by a former dictator Sani Abacha.
Secretary Pompeo stated that, “The foreign minister and I just completed a very productive conversation on how to continue to strengthen the economic and security ties between our two nations. This is a real priority for us in the Trump administration in Africa, because Nigeria is Africa’s most populous democracy and its largest economy”.
Mike Pompeo and Geoffrey Onyema at the Department of State, Feb. 4, 2020, in Washington, D.C. /CABNCTV images
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Onyeama said, “I’d like to say it’s been a great pleasure to be back in Washington to attend the Binational Commission between the United States and Nigeria. This commission for us is a very important and valued framework for the cooperation between our two countries. And as the Secretary has said, we came with a large delegation”.
On the visa ban, Onyema said there has been mixed feelings regarding the U.S. Government ‘Immigrants visa ban’ announcement past week. Nigeria officials working with U.S. DHS officials, had identified the shortcomings and were working to quickly resolve them “U.S. officials have also confirmed that we have been able to tick most of those boxes,” he said, except for data sharing on lost or stolen U.S. passports.
“Hopefully, once that has been achieved, we look forward to being taken off this visa restriction list,” Onyeama concluded.
“During the Binational Commission we looked at some of the statistics of the trade between the United States and Nigeria, and for two big countries it’s – it really is just too low. And we honestly believe that there’s just so much more we can and we should be doing together. Of course, there have been maybe some disincentives”. Says Onyeama
And last but not the least, to thank you again, Mr. Secretary. We know you’ve just come back from a very long trip. But nevertheless, you’ve taken the time to be here with us and afford us the opportunity to listen very attentively – and very sympathetically. Says Hon. Geoffery Onyeama, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
DESPITE VISA BAN, US ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $40M HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIA
London, Feb. 5, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Barely a week after US government slammed immigration ban on Nigeria, the same government announced on Tuesday additional $40m in humanitarian aid to the country to assist victims of terrorism
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who announced this during a joint press briefing with the visiting Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama said the money was an addition to the “nearly $350 million that we provided last year”
“The foreign minister and I also discussed today the massive humanitarian crisis that the conflict with Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa and other religious and ethnic violence.
“We know that these issues are hard. We know that they’re complicated. But I strongly encouraged the Nigerian Government to do more to protect its civilians, including religious communities and the humanitarian organizations seeking to assist them.
“To aid in this effort, I’m pleased to announce today an additional $40 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria, adding to the nearly $350 million that we provided last year” Pompeo said at the briefing
Pompeo said despite the ban, Nigeria remained a strategic partner being America’s second-largest trading partner in Africa.
“Let me begin and talk about our economic cooperation. Nigeria is already America’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. U.S. companies from Google to Chevron to KPMG invested over a billion dollars in Nigeria in 2018 alone, creating over 18,000 jobs and indirectly supporting 3 million others.
Onyeama who was in Washington to attend the Binational Commission between the United States and Nigeria, thanked the US government for its continued support particularly on security
On the visa ban, Onyeama said Nigerian government, working with U.S. officials, had identified the shortcomings and were working on them “U.S. officials have also confirmed that we have been able to tick most of those boxes,” he said, except for data sharing on lost or stolen passports
“Trump’s proclamation specified that countries must report lost or stolen passports to Interpol within 30 days, an updated requirement under the expanded travel ban.
“Hopefully, once that has been achieved, we look forward to being taken off this visa restriction list,” Onyeama added.