U.S. envoy tours northern Nigeria

The visit according to a statement from the embassy is part of Ambassador’s continuing tour of northern Nigeria, to interact with the people, learn more about the security issues in the region, and to share the United States’ wishes for peaceful elections, good governance, development opportunities, and a better future for Nigeria.  In his comments […]

The visit according to a statement from the embassy is part of Ambassador’s continuing tour of northern Nigeria, to interact with the people, learn more about the security issues in the region, and to share the United States’ wishes for peaceful elections, good governance, development opportunities, and a better future for Nigeria.  
In his comments during his meetings, Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue state, religious and community leaders, Vice Chancellor of Benue State University and students of the university, Entwistle emphasized the importance of U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship in terms of trade and economics, democracy issues, partnering on shared security, and advancing access for all Nigerians to education and health resources.
He said the 2015 elections will be an important test for Nigeria, and urged politicians, the media and individual Nigerians to make a pledge “that they will not advocate, support or condone violence before, during or after the elections.”
He said, the United States will lend its support to Nigeria’s efforts, but will not dictate to Nigeria.
The ambassador further said, “Nigeria has great potential.  Your diversity should be a source of strength, not strife.  People must learn to tolerate and get along with each other.  Across the globe, history has shown that countries that make progress are those whose communities live in peace with each other.”
He said with the North’s strong tradition of inter-faith cooperation, the United States will support efforts aimed at promoting tolerance, and assist both government and civil society to promote transparency and accountability, strengthen media, and support national and local elections.
Ambassador Entwistle toured two U.S. Government supported projects in Markurdi on health and agriculture.  He learned about the successes of USAID’s technical support on HIV/AIDS to the General Hospital, North Bank, Makurdi.  He also learned about the progress and growth of the rice value chain being promoted by the MIKAP rice mill, working through USAID’s MARKETS project, to stimulate commercial production and processing of rice in Benue State.
The ambassador will also visit Nasarawa and Plateau States as part of his tours in the Middle Belt.