Home / Lead Story / U.S to invest over $600m in Nigeria in 2016, return billions of dollars of looted funds – Kerry; I’ll critically review budget passed by NASS before assenting – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari with Secretary of State, John Kerry

U.S to invest over $600m in Nigeria in 2016, return billions of dollars of looted funds – Kerry; I’ll critically review budget passed by NASS before assenting – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari with Secretary of State, John Kerry
President Muhammadu Buhari with Secretary of State, John Kerry
kerry1
Presidents Obama and Buhari
Presidents Obama and Buhari
United States Secretary of State, John Kerry has ssured that his country will invest more than $600 million in Nigeria this year.
He disclosed this during the opening session of the U.S.A – Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting.
The delegation from Nigeria was headed by Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyema, flanked by other officials including Nigerian Charge d’Affaires, Hakeem Balogun.
Kerry was accompanied by leaders from the State Department, USAID, the Defence Department, Commerce Department, and other key agencies and U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle.
Kerry, who praised Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari’s activities so far in office in the area of security and the push to diversify the economy, said, “Our development assistance this year will top $600 million, and we are working closely with your leaders – the leaders of your health ministry – to halt the misery that is spread by HIV/AIDS, by malaria, and by Tuberculosis.
“Our Power Africa Initiative is aimed at strengthening the energy sector, where shortage in electricity has frustrated the population and impeded growth.
“And our long-term food security programme, Feed the Future, is helping to create more efficient agriculture and to raise rural incomes in doing that.
“Our Young African Leaders Programme, in which many Nigerians participate, is preparing the next generation to take the reins of responsibility….and in education, we are working together to try to fight illiteracy, especially in the country’s north, where the lack of opportunity has been holding people back, and where the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram, has murdered thousands and disrupted the lives of millions.”
He frowned at the Boko Haram insurgents, and assured of U.S. support to wipe off the sect and end its deadly activities.
On investment, he pointed out that the U.S. Commerce Secretary, Pritzker “has been among the first senior U.S. officials who have been to Nigeria recently.
“In her case, it was to highlight investment opportunities and that is a theme that has been reinforced by yesterday’s business forum here in Washington.”
He added, “Under President Buhari, Nigeria has been taking the fight to Boko Haram and it has reduced Boko Haram’s capacity to launch full-scale attacks.
“However, the group still remains a threat – a serious threat – to the entire region.
“And in recent months, our governments have been collaborating on new ways to institute security measures, including counter-IED equipment, improved information sharing, and training and equipping two infantry battalions.
“Now, I want to be clear, this aid is predicated on the understanding that, even when countering a group as ruthless as Boko Haram, security forces have a duty to set the standard with respect to human rights. One abuse does not excuse another.”
Onyema expressed hope on a successful outcome as the meeting went into a closed door.

President Buhari, also speaking at the meeting with Mr. Kerry, said that he will critically review the 2016 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly before assenting to it.He said that in view of the controversial alteration and padding of the budget proposals, he needed to review the appropriation bill to be certain that its contents tallied with the authentic budget proposal presented to the National Assembly.
“Some bureaucrats removed what we put in the proposal and replaced it with what they wanted. I have to look at the bill that has been passed by the National Assembly, ministry by ministry, to be sure that what has been brought back for me to sign is in line with our original submission,” the President said.
Declaring that his administration will continue to vigorously prosecute its war against corruption, President Buhari sought and received an assurance from Mr. Kerry that the United States Government will facilitate the repatriation of all stolen Nigerian funds found within the American banking system.
“It will greatly help our country if you assist us to recover all our stolen funds which we can establish to be within your financial system,” the President told Mr. Kerry.
Responding, the Secretary of State said that he has been told that the stolen Nigerian funds were in “billions of dollars”.
“It’s not easy to hide that amount of money and we are pretty good in tracing them,” Mr Kerry assured President Buhari, adding that relevant United States Government Officials will meet with the Chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to discuss further cooperation in that regard.

About Global Patriot Staff

Check Also

Military releases pictures of killed personnel; Debunks claim of reprisal attacks on Okuama Community

By Sumaila Ogbaje Abuja, March 18, 2024 The Nigerian Military has debunked claims that it …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *