America To Invest As Much As $600m In Nigeria

The United States is set to invest more than $600million in Nigeria this year, Secretary of State John Kerry said in Washington on Wednesday. He spoke during the opening session of the U.S.- Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting.

The Nigerian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyema, supported by other officials including Nigerian Charge d’Affaires, Hakeem Balogun.

Kerry, who hailed President Buhari’s actions in security and moves to diversify the economy, said:

"Our development assistance this year will top $600 million, and we are working closely with your leaders – the leaders of your health ministry – to halt the misery that is spread by HIV/AIDS, by malaria, and by TB.

“Our Power Africa Initiative is aimed at strengthening the energy sector, where shortage in electricity has frustrated the population and impeded growth.

“And our long-term food security programme, Feed the Future, is helping to create more efficient agriculture and to raise rural incomes in doing that.

“Our Young African Leaders Programme, in which many Nigerians participate, is preparing the next generation to take the reins of responsibility….and in education, we are working together to try to fight illiteracy, especially in the country’s north, where the lack of opportunity has been holding people back, and where Boko Haram has murdered thousands and disrupted the lives of millions.”

On investment, he recalled that the U.S. Commerce Secretary Pritzker “has been among the first senior U.S. officials who have been to Nigeria recently. In her case, it was to highlight investment opportunities and that is a theme that has been reinforced by yesterday’s business forum here.”

Minister Onyema expressed optimism on a successful outcome as the meeting went into a closed session.