The United States has announced an additional 40-million-dollar (N14 billion) aid to Nigeria to address the humanitarian crisis arising from decades of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Secretary of State, Mr Mike Pompeo, who made the announcement in Washington DC on Tuesday, said this was in addition to nearly 350 million dollars (N122.5 billion) provided in assistance by the US last year.
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Pompeo spoke during a joint media briefing with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, after the US-Nigeria Binational Commission meeting hosted by the Department of State.
The BNC is a platform for the Nigerian and US governments to expand cooperation and advance shared goals in the areas of trade and investment, development, good governance and security.
Pompeo said the two-day meeting also featured discussions on security cooperation between both countries, especially Nigeria’s “recent purchase’’ of 12 US-made A-29 fighter planes worth 500 million dollars.
The sale of the aircraft, according to him, is in support of Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s (retd.) vision of building “a security force with the best training and modern weaponry”.
He said the US would “hold Nigeria to the pledge’’ of ensuring that the country’s military operates with the highest standards of respect for human rights.
On his part, Onyeama described the security challenges facing the country as an existential threat but was quick to note that they were being addressed with respect for human rights.
(NAN)
