As President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Washington yesterday on a fourday state visit, the United States has expressed its willingness to assist his administration to track down billions of dollars in stolen assets and increase US military assistance to fight Boko Haram. Buhari’s visit is viewed by Washington, which seeks to “reset” relationship with Nigeria, as a chance to set the seal on improving ties since he won the presidential election hailed as Nigeria’s first democratic power transition in decades.
U.S. cooperation with Buhari’s predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, had virtually ground to a halt over issues including his refusal to investigate corruption and human rights abuses by the Nigerian military. Buhari, who arrived in Washington yesterday, left Nigeria with a 33-man delegation that included his son, governors, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and some permanent secretaries.
“President (Barack Obama) has long seen Nigeria as arguably the most important strategic country in sub-Saharan Africa. The question is, would there be an opportunity to deepen our engagement and that opportunity is now,” US Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Tony Blinken, told Reuters. The improving ties with Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, come as U.S. relations have cooled with two other traditional Africa powers – Egypt and South Africa. US officials have said they are willing to send military trainers to help Nigeria counter a six-yearold insurgency by Boko Haram. Since Buhari’s election, Washington has committed $5 million in new support for a multi-national task force set up to fight the sect.
This is in addition to at least $34 million it is providing to Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger for equipment and logistics. Buhari’s move on July 13 to fire military chiefs appointed by Jonathan clears the way for more military cooperation, U.S. officials said. “We’ve made it clear there are additional things that can be done, especially now that there is a new military leadership in place,” a senior US official said. Another senior US official said Washington was urging Buhari to step up regional cooperation against the militants and to provide more aid to afflicted communities to reduce the group’s recruiting power. Buhari has said his priorities are strengthening Nigeria’s economy, hardhit by the fall in oil prices, boosting investment and tackling “the biggest monster of all” – corruption.
“Here too, he is looking to deepen collaboration and one of the things he is focused on is asset recovery. He is hopeful we can help them recover some of that,” the US official said. In 2014, the United States took control of more than $480 million siphoned away by former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha and his associates into banks around the world. Washington has broad powers to track suspicious funds and enforce sanctions against individuals. Jonathan fired Nigeria’s Central Bank Governor in February last year after he raised questions about the disappearance of about $20 billion in oil revenues.
Johnnie Carson, a former assistant secretary of state, said Washington should not let security issues overshadow the need for closer trade and investment ties. “Nigeria is the most important country in Africa,” said Carson, currently an adviser to the U.S. Institute of Peace. Now more than ever, “the relationship with Nigeria should not rest essentially on a security and military-to-military relationship,” he added. Lauren Ploch Blanchard, an Africa specialist with the non-partisan Congressional Research Services, said the US challenge was to work with Buhari while giving him time to address the country’s vast problems. How Buhari will han-dle the campaign against Boko Haram is still unknown, Blanchard said. Also, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urged Obama and Buhari to use their meeting to show more commitment and initiatives towards curbing Boko Haram violence.
The group, in a statement given to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in New York by its Chairman, Robert George, said: “We are extremely concerned by Boko Haram’s senseless killing of innocent people, the targeting of worshippers and the destruction of houses of worship. “This increase in violence has left more than 300 dead since the beginning of July; and is a stark reminder that Boko Haram is a destabilising force in Nigeria and the region.” USCIRF welcomes Washington’s calls for Abuja to comprehensively address these challenges.
“We urge that these discussions focus on improving civilian security from Boko Haram’s attacks and the long-standing herderfarmer sectarian violence. “Such discussion should urge the Nigerian government to respect human rights during military and police responses and ensure justice for victims. “Addressing the issues of radicalisation, northern socioeconomic disparities, land conflicts, displacement and reconciliation also are crucial to helping ensure security and ending the violence”, George said. Earlier yesterday, Buhari arrived in Washington for talks with Obama.
The president departed Abuja in the early hours of yesterday in company with the Governors of Imo (Rochas Okorocha), Nasarawa (Tanko Al- Makura), Edo (Adams Oshiomhole), Borno (Kashim Shettima) and Oyo (Abiola Ajimobi). He departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja under light showers at about 2:45pm. Buhari, who will meet Obama at the White House today, would later hold further discussions with the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey and the Deputy Secretary of Defence, Robert Work on military and defence cooperation.
He is also expected to meet with Vice-President Joe Biden and confer with the US Attorney-General, Loretta Lynch, the US Secretary of Treasury, Jack Lew, the US Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker and the US Trade representative, Michael Froman on United States’ support for his administration’s war against corruption, as well as fresh measures to boost Nigeria- United States trade relations.
The president, who will be received by the United States Secretary of State at the State Department in Washington DC, will later hold meetings with the United States Senate and Congressional Committees on Foreign Relations, as well as the Black Caucus of the United States House of Representatives.
Before leaving Washington, Buhari would address the US Chamber of Commerce and Corporate Council for Africa. He is also expected also host an interactive session with Nigerians in the Diaspora. Buhari’s trip to the US would also afford him the opportunity of a reunion with members of the American War College Class of 1980 in which he was a distinguished participant. He is expected back in Abuja on Thursday.
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