In a significant development, US Vice President Kamala Harris has engaged in a high-level dialogue with Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing the US’s commitment to deepening economic ties with Nigeria. This conversation marks the highest-level US engagement since President Tinubu’s inauguration in May.
During the conversation, Harris commended President Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly his decision to remove petrol subsidies and unify foreign exchange rates. Despite the immediate rise in petrol prices and transportation costs following the announcement, Harris expressed support for these measures, viewing them as steps towards economic reform. She also highlighted the importance of these policies in steering Nigeria’s economy in the right direction.
US support for private sector investment and democratic governance
Harris further assured Tinubu of the US’s support in increasing private sector investment, promoting digital inclusion, empowering women, and expanding access to clean energy. She underscored the US government’s long-standing support for Nigeria’s democracy and good governance, emphasizing the responsibility of governments to ensure that security services act to serve the people they are mandated to protect.
The US Vice President also expressed concern about the recent coup in Niger, emphasizing that the US’s continued engagement with the West African country is dependent on its commitment to democratic standards. In response, President Tinubu, who also serves as the chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), expressed his commitment to restoring peace in the region. He announced that ECOWAS had deployed President Patrice Talon of Benin to Niger to assess the situation.
President Tinubu also stressed the need for more private-sector investment in Nigeria, urging the US to lead the way in this regard. He highlighted the challenges posed by the removal of fuel subsidies and the need for foreign direct investment to alleviate these effects. Tinubu also pointed out the untapped potential of Nigeria’s abundant gas resources and the need for investment in gas pipelines to Europe.
In conclusion, the conversation between Vice President Harris and President Tinubu signifies strengthening ties between the US and Nigeria, focusing on economic reform, private sector investment, and democratic governance. The outcomes of this dialogue are expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s economy and its international relations.
