The Vice President of the United States (US), Kamala Harris on Friday vowed to strengthen ties with Nigeria.
Kamala disclosed this to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu about defending democracy in West Africa and other issues in a phone call.
Harris disclosed this in the early hours of Friday while she also tweeted that she and Tinubu discussed the ties between Nigeria and the US.
The phone call between the two leaders came after a coup in Nigeria’s neighbour Niger sacked President Mohamed Bazoum.
“Today, I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria about the strong ties between the Nigerian and American people and our shared work on global and regional issues,” she tweeted.
“These issues are ranging from defending democracy in West Africa and the Sahel to promoting digital inclusion and economic growth.”
Today, I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria about the strong ties between the Nigerian and American people and our shared work on global and regional issues—from defending democracy in West Africa and the Sahel to promoting digital inclusion and economic growth. pic.twitter.com/v1or2CECKt
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 28, 2023
United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier also expressed strong support for Nigeria’s efforts toward the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
In his response, President Tinubu thanked Harris for the telephone call and her words of encouragement on the efforts taken so far on the economy but added that “the developments in Niger Republic dampen spirits.”
He said ECOWAS, under his watch, would do all that is necessary to restore democracy in Niger while counting on the support of the US.
In Nigeria, President Tinubu craved more private-sector investment, urging the US to lead the way in this regard.
“We had to get rid of the fuel subsidy that is laden with fraud with a few people appropriating the wealth of the country to themselves.
“We would need the US to help push for investments that will help alleviate the effects of subsidy removal in Nigeria. We need foreign direct investment to come in.
We would need the US to help push for investments that will help alleviate the effects of subsidy removal in Nigeria. We need foreign direct investment to come in.
“We have abundant gas resources in the country and not being able to fund gas pipelines to Europe and compete in that gas market is a handicap,” he said.