Buhari's Reforms Are In The Right Direction - US Ambassador
The United States assistant secretary of
state in charge of economic and business affairs, Ambassador Charles
Rivkim who is on an official visit to Nigeria has opened up on how the
US government views Nigeria.
He said that the US government believe that Nigeria has launched itself into a new era for renewed direction where opportunities will be adequately utilised.
Speaking at the 2015 ‘small medium enterprises financing conference’ in Abuja on Tuesday, September 8, Rivkim who is visiting Nigeria for the first time reckoned that addressing insecurity and corruption will improve the business climate in Nigeria.
“I will like to give you a view of Nigeria from Washington D.C’s perspective. First, I think it’s accurate to say there is a consensus that Nigeria is at an historic fork in the road, so as to speak –choosing between businesses as usual and a new direction. Nigeria is ready for a new direction and has demonstrated that readiness in largely peaceful elections in which the outgoing President conceded defeat.
“There is a consensus that His Excellency President Buhari’s top two priorities are the right priorities –defeating Boko Haram and the insecurity issues in the country, and attacking corruption. Addressing these two issues would have a positive impact on the economy and would be significant in improving the business climate in Nigeria.”
On the reforms going on in the oil and gas sector, Rivkim expressed satisfaction with efforts made so far by the President.
“Already, President Buhari’s efforts to reform the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is seen among outside observers as a welcome development. It is a concrete example of a new direction for Nigeria, rather than business as usual.
“There is also an external factor that makes the case for a new direction so compelling which is the decline in the price of oil. There is significant interest in Washington in how Nigeria will respond to this new economic paradigm.”
Meanwhile, a recent investigation has showed that Nigeria’s traditional allies might have ignored the immediate past administration in tackling Boko Haram.
An unnamed security source in Abuja disclosed that multiple appeals by the Jonathan administration were not heeded to by the USA and some other Western nations. The source claimed that up to 25 letters were forwarded to the United States and other Western countries, requesting sale of modern weapons needed for anti-terrorist operation.
He said that the US government believe that Nigeria has launched itself into a new era for renewed direction where opportunities will be adequately utilised.
Speaking at the 2015 ‘small medium enterprises financing conference’ in Abuja on Tuesday, September 8, Rivkim who is visiting Nigeria for the first time reckoned that addressing insecurity and corruption will improve the business climate in Nigeria.
“I will like to give you a view of Nigeria from Washington D.C’s perspective. First, I think it’s accurate to say there is a consensus that Nigeria is at an historic fork in the road, so as to speak –choosing between businesses as usual and a new direction. Nigeria is ready for a new direction and has demonstrated that readiness in largely peaceful elections in which the outgoing President conceded defeat.
“There is a consensus that His Excellency President Buhari’s top two priorities are the right priorities –defeating Boko Haram and the insecurity issues in the country, and attacking corruption. Addressing these two issues would have a positive impact on the economy and would be significant in improving the business climate in Nigeria.”
On the reforms going on in the oil and gas sector, Rivkim expressed satisfaction with efforts made so far by the President.
“Already, President Buhari’s efforts to reform the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is seen among outside observers as a welcome development. It is a concrete example of a new direction for Nigeria, rather than business as usual.
“There is also an external factor that makes the case for a new direction so compelling which is the decline in the price of oil. There is significant interest in Washington in how Nigeria will respond to this new economic paradigm.”
Meanwhile, a recent investigation has showed that Nigeria’s traditional allies might have ignored the immediate past administration in tackling Boko Haram.
An unnamed security source in Abuja disclosed that multiple appeals by the Jonathan administration were not heeded to by the USA and some other Western nations. The source claimed that up to 25 letters were forwarded to the United States and other Western countries, requesting sale of modern weapons needed for anti-terrorist operation.
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