US DID NOT CRITICISE NIGERIA ON INSECURITY IN THE NORTH SAYS ADEFUYE

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Professor Ade Adefuye has denied media reports that the State Department of the US is blaming the Nigerian government for not doing enough in combating economic challenges and the insecurity in the north, in particular the activities of the Boko Haram terrorist organisation.
According to Ambassador Adefuye, the publications tended to give the impression that this opinion was conveyed during the last meeting of northern governors with US National Security Adviser Susan Rice, co-ordinated by the embassy of Nigeria and the US Institute of Peace (USIP). Adefuye, who said nothing could be further from the truth, noted the two countries engaged in activities aimed at strengthening the level of co-operation that had existed between them in confronting the twin challenges of poverty in the north and insecurity within the framework of the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, one of whose components was regional security. One of the conditions under which the Mission agreed to be involved in the visit of the governors, Adefuye told THISDAY in a telephone conversation, was that the embassy would be present at all meetings of the governors and that was what happened. “I was accompanied by two of my senior officers to all the meetings and activities during the visit of the governors including at the State Department. No such statement was made and no such impressions were created,”
Adefuye said, adding that “it is important to recall that the US State Department and the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs are jointly implementing the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, which includes co-operation on security and developmental issues. Just last week, Adefuye stated, a State Department spokeswoman Marie Hart declared that the American government has worked closely with the Nigerian government in an effort to fight Boko Haram menace and on Wednesday US Secretary of State John Kerry renewed the pledge to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism. Adefuye stressed the emphasis in the meeting of northern governors was to complement the federal government twin track approach of containment and dialogue on the Boko Haram issue. “It was agreed the containment aspect is being well handled by Nigerian government with the active assistance and support of the United States. 
“What the meeting specifically tried to do was to look for ways of eliminating the factors that made the recruitment into Boko Haram attractive. Factors of poverty and unemployment were identified. The meeting therefore looked into ways of tackling this problem by holding discussions with stakeholders in the public and private sectors in the American economy,” he emphasised.
Part of the success of the northern governors meeting with State Department were series of meetings arranged with the USAID, US Overseas Private Investment Cooperation, US-Exim Bank, Corporate Council on Africa and US Chambers of Commerce.

Private companies such as AGCO, Caterpillar, Blumberg, Adefuye continued, also made presentations on areas of possible investments in the Northern parts of Nigeria and all these meetings were held with active support of the State Department.
The ambassador noted that in order to consolidate agreements reached on investments during the meeting, “the Northern Governors’ Forum will be hosting a group of American investors at a meeting on Saturday May 10, 2014 at 9.00 am at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

“Many American companies especially those who will be participating at the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be holding discussions with the Governors and some interested Nigerian private sector stakeholders on how to utilize investment opportunities that exist in the North.
The US State Department, he stressed, is aware of the above plans as well as other activities of the Federal Government to fast-track economic development especially in the areas affected by Boko Haram and other parts of Northern Nigeria.
“The American government is aware of the Economic Summit for the North eastern part of the country, the Almajiri school program, the 10 billion Naira provided as take-off fund for agriculture outside budgetary allocation and the robust approach to desert encroachment, as well as other economic programs designed for the north.”
Adefuye for emphasis sake concluded: “It is therefore untrue and unfair for anyone to allege that the American government has criticised the Federal Government for not paying attention to the Northern part of the country. “Certainly no such statement was made during the Northern governors’ visit to the US. I participated in all events during the visit and challenge anyone to prove the substance of this allegation.” 
Source: Thisday