The United States Vice President, Kamala Harris has expressed her support to Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu’s steps to reform Nigeria’s economy, including ending the fuel subsidy and unifying foreign currency exchange rates.
Kamala in a statement released by the White House on Thursday, made a call to the Nigerian leader on the highest-level U.S. engagement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his May 2023 inauguration.
Building on the investments announced during the Vice President’s trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia earlier this year, including more than $8 billion in private sector commitments and $1 billion in U.S. government commitments.
The Vice President and Nigerian President discussed how U.S. and Nigerian public and private sectors can work together to increase private sector investment, digital inclusion, women’s empowerment, and expand access to clean energy.
Harris underscored the U.S. government’s long-standing support for Nigeria’s democracy and good governance, including governments’ responsibility to ensure that security services act to serve the people they are mandated to protect.
The Vice President highlighted the deep ties between the United States and Nigeria, including people-to- people connections and Diaspora, recognized Nigeria as a leading global voice and Africa’s largest democracy and economy.
US’s Harris and Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu underscored their shared commitment to defending democracy in West Africa and the Sahel and deep concern about the attempted takeover in Niger.
She strongly condemned any efforts to seize power by force in Niger, and emphasized that our substantial cooperation with the Government of Niger is contingent on Niger’s continued commitment to democratic standards.