BEVERLY HILLS, July 20, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari Monday held bilateral talks President Barack Obama inside the Oval Office with Vice President Joe Biden in attendance. Boko Haram, corruption, oil theft and Nigeria’s economy topped discussions.
Obama described Nigeria as one of the most important countries in the world and hailed the nation’s commitment to democracy following the successful conduct of the last general elections that saw Buhari defeat incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.
He said he is very concerned by Boko Haram attacks and believes President Buhari has a clear agenda about defeating the group and rooting out corruption that has held Nigeria’s economic prosperity back.
Obama said he looks forward to discussing how the United States and Nigeria can cooperate on counterterrorism issues.
Buhari had earlier met with Biden at the Naval Observatory, the official residence of the Vice President.
This is Buhari’s first visit to the United States since he assumed office in May.
The breakfast meeting hosted by Biden afforded him the opportunity to compare notes with Buhari on the terror war.
America had been beleaguered by terrorists, who launched massive attacks that killed thousands in September 2001, while Nigeria battles the Boko Haram sect causing carnage in the North-eastern part of the country.
At the meeting, which held at the Naval Observatory, official residence of the American Vice President, Biden shared with his guest what the U.S had learnt from the terror war, counseling that victory cannot come from military option alone. Military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes, VP Biden said, promising that the U.S would work with Nigeria in that direction.
VP Biden assured of the goodwill of the United States in rebuilding the Nigerian economy, but observed that corruption and weak institutions must be tackled, if Nigeria was to benefit from reforms. He added that seasoned technocrats must manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy, and only then would investors be attracted to the country.
The American Vice-President congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the March 2015 elections, adding that it was obvious that the President enjoys the confidence of the Nigerian people.
Responding, President Buhari thanked the U.S for standing by Nigeria in the run up to general elections early this year, noting that the visit of the Secretary of State, John Kerry, was critical as it sent home the message that America would not brook the subversion of the people’s will.
On oil theft, the Nigerian President estimated losses at between 10 and 20 billion dollars, stressing that such income could have been deployed with salutary impact on various spheres of national life like education and healthcare, among others.
Both America and Nigeria pledged renewed commitment to work as partners at the very insightful meeting.
