Nigeria–United States relations

Nigeria – United States relations

Nigeria	United States

Nigeria–United States relations are bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States of America. Nigeria and the United States have long been close allies.

The United States is Nigeria's main trading partner and is its most important diplomatic partner. With the nullification of Nigeria's June 12, 1993, presidential election, the substantial amount of human rights abuses, and the failure to embark on a meaningful democratic transition, the United States has imposed numerous sanctions on Nigeria. After a period of increasingly strained relations, the death of General Abacha in June 1998, and his replacement by General Abubakar opened a new phase of improved bilateral relations. As the transition to democracy progressed, the removal of visa restrictions, increased high-level visits of U.S. officials, discussions of future assistance, and the granting of a Vital National Interest Certification on counter-narcotics, effective in March 1999, paved the way for re-establishment of closer ties between the United States and Nigeria as a key partner in the region and the continent. Since the inauguration of the Obasanjo government, the bilateral relationship has continued to improve, and cooperation on many important foreign policy goals, such as regional peacekeeping, has been excellent.

The government has lent strong diplomatic support to U.S. Government counter-terrorism efforts in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The Government of Nigeria, in its official statements, has both condemned the terrorist attacks and supported military action against the Taliban and Al Qaida. Nigeria also has played a leading role in forging an anti-terrorism consensus among states in Sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated one million Nigerians and Nigerian Americans live, study, and work in the United States, while over 25,000 Americans live and work in Nigeria. There are many Nigerian organizations in the United States. Prominent among them is the (NUD), which is the umbrella Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) for the economic and political empowerment of the people of Nigerian descent outside Nigeria. President Yar'Adua visited President Bush at the White House on December 13, 2007.

Country music in Nigeria has enjoyed high levels of success and popularity since its introduction by American missionaries and returning Nigerian expatriates from the United States.

Nigeria is consistently a pro-American country. According to the 2012 U.S. Global Leadership Report, 77% of Nigerians approve of U.S. leadership, with 9% disapproving and 14% uncertain.^[1] According to a 2014 Global Opinion Poll, 69% of Nigerians view the U.S. favorably.^[2] According to a 2017 BBC World Service Poll, in stark contrast to a worldwide decline in opinion of the U.S. following the election of U.S. president Donald Trump, 68% of Nigerians viewed the U.S. positively (9% increase from 2014) – the highest percentage out of all countries surveyed, with 25% of Nigerians expressing a negative view (4% decrease from 2014).^[3] According to a 2019 poll from Pew Research Center, 58% of Nigerians had confidence in the ability of U.S. president Donald Trump to do the right thing in international affairs – the fourth highest percentage after Israel, the Philippines, and Kenya.^[4]

U.S. foreign assistance priorities[]

Nigeria's first and only Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa at the White House with President Kennedy in 1961, shortly after Nigerian independence.

"Investing in People" is the top U.S. foreign assistance priority in Nigeria. The U.S. ability to help Nigeria combat public health shortcomings contributes directly to good governance, societal stability, economic growth, and confidence in U.S. concern for the well-being of the Nigerian people. The prospects of the mutual cooperation is very decisive. Considering the fact that Nigeria is currently the economic powerhouse of the African continent and that the Nation has the richest black man and richest black woman in the world according to Forbes magazine. Nigeria is also a capitalist economy and it is this inherent similarity in both the Nigerian economy and the United States economy that proves the prospects of this cooperation to be highly favorable.

U.S. efforts to eradicate malaria will focus on the sale of insecticide-treated nets and treatments kits, and provide therapies and intermittent preventive treatment of pregnant women. To reduce death and disability as a result of TB, especially in the vulnerable co-infected HIV/AIDS population, U.S. assistance will strengthen the Nigerian health system, and referral systems between diagnosis and treatment programs for TB and AIDS. Furthermore, the U.S. Government focuses resources on expanding access to quality family planning services and reproductive health care and strives to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate to 14%.

One-third (10 million) of Nigerian children are enrolled in primary school. Only 45% of primary-school aged children have functional numeric skills, and only 28% are literate. The United States hopes to bolster basic education, including at Islamic schools, which provide both religious instruction and a secular curriculum, through teacher training and community involvement, and ensure equitable access to quality basic education.

Governing Justly and Democratically: The United States is helping Nigeria make exceptional efforts to develop inclusive, transparent, and effective institutions of democratic governance. U.S. assistance helps rebuild basic mechanisms of democratic governance to make elected officials accountable to constituents through free and fair elections, strong government institutions, and well-organized, informed citizens who demand performance. The U.S. advances rule of law in Nigeria by strengthening the capacity and transparency of law enforcement agencies and judiciary. The United States supports democratic local government and decentralization and improves fiscal administration by maximizing revenue collection in credible audits. It strengthens the civil society by promoting existing watchdog groups that have lobbied successfully for more transparency, accountability, and pluralism in Nigeria's fiscal, electoral, conflict management, political, and human rights affairs.

Peace and Security: The United States has supported the peacekeeping and simulation centers at the Armed Forces Staff College—the only one in Africa and a major regional asset—and has continued to provide equipment and training for Nigerian peacekeeping forces while promoting effective civilian oversight of the military and its adherence to human rights norms. The U.S. is building the capacity of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to prevent and respond to regional instability and promote the integration of ECOWAS security mechanisms into a broad Africa framework. It is also funding military-sponsored schools, clinics and basic community services to demonstrate U.S. commitment to help build the nation's infrastructure. Beyond fostering maritime cooperation with security services in the Niger Delta, the United States supports the European Union's leading role in helping Nigeria fight corruption, organized criminal elements, document fraud, drug traffickers, and terrorists. The U.S. will focus on training, developmental and technical aid, and law enforcement cooperation in border control and against arms smuggling and oil theft. Expanded community policing programs will improve Nigeria's human rights record and restore public faith and cooperation with the security services. The U.S. will continue to offer legal reform, training, and technical help to Nigeria's counter-terrorism finance regime.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari have a press conference at the White House in April 2018.

Economic Growth: The United States is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Finance Ministry, National Planning Commission, and others to improve the environment for investment in agriculture through policy reform at the national and state level. Micro-investment is hindered by lack of access to market-driven financial services and lack in policy that provides for liberalization of credit institutions and encourages savings plans with transparency in both the private and public sectors. Federal and state policy strengthening are essential as business decisions and banking regulation take place at both levels. U.S. programs help develop a policy climate in which micro, small and medium enterprises have access to credit, encourage investment, stimulate job growth, and build capacity in both the public and private sectors. Trade initiatives include capacity building in customs regulation and operations, policy reform to encourage internal and external trade, taking advantage of AGOA incentives for bilateral trade, and development of the private sector capacity to meet international trade and export standards.

Ongoing presidential initiatives with Nigeria include the African Growth and Competitiveness Initiative, fighting avian flu, the Initiative to End Hunger in Africa, and the Trans-Sahel Counter-Terrorism Program. Nigeria's eligibility for other regional activities include the Famine Early Warning System, Anti-Corruption Initiative; trafficking in persons; and the Ambassador's Girls Scholarship Fund. Nigeria is a premier participant in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), for which $270 million was committed in FY 2007.

On January 15, 2015, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson urged increased engagement with Nigeria for both the US and European partners, to assist in maintaining stability in the light of the upcoming 2015 Nigerian general election, security problems in Northeastern Nigeria, and economic concerns regarding rising oil prices.^[5]

Assistance with Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping[]

At a news conference in Abuja in June 2014, a United States Congressional Delegation consisting of Steve Stockman, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Frederica Wilson and Lois Frankel indicated that US troops were ready to assist in the search for the missing girls of the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping.^[6] An interdisciplinary US team has been sent to assist the Nigerian military.^[7][8]

Principal U.S. officials in Nigeria[]

Principal U.S. Officials include the following:

• Ambassador--Mary Beth Leonard
• Deputy Chief of Mission—Lisa Piascik
• Political Affairs—Terry Pflaumer
• Economic Affairs—Robert Tansey
• Commercial Affairs—Larry Farris (Lagos)
• Agricultural Affairs—Ali Abdi (Lagos)
• Consul General—Donna Blair
• Defense Attaché—Col. Peter Aubrey
• Public Affairs—Atim George

See also[]

• Nigerian Americans
• Foreign relations of Nigeria
• Foreign relations of the United States

References[]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Department of State website https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/. (U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets)

Further reading[]

• "U.S. Relations With Nigeria". Bureau of African Affairs. United States Department of State.

External links[]

• History of Nigeria - U.S. relations
• "U.S. Assistance to Nigeria. Guest, EJ Hogendoorn, Deputy Program Director for Africa, International Crisis Group". 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2014-06-28. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)

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