Elizabeth O.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard expressed this willingness during a meeting with journalists in Abuja, on Monday.
Leonard who was questioned on the steps the US would take to assist Nigeria in identifying the sponsors of terrorism said, “That is something we are very eager to partner Nigeria on.
I have had at least three conversations in the last two months on this subject.”
“I won’t like to go into details.”
The Ambassador who also spoke on a report that the US would abandon Nigeria the same way it did in the case of Afghanistan, noted that Nigeria and the US have a bilateral relationship unlike that of Afghanistan.
Leonard added, “I hear people making the analogy with Afghanistan a lot, it does not match up.”
“When you listen to what President Biden said on how troops went to Afghanistan in the first place, it was because they were in a horrible tragedy, over 3,000 Americans were killed.
“That is a different construct. The sovereign nations have had strong bilateral relations. I don’t think the two match up.”
The Commander of the US Air Forces in Europe, General Jeffrey Harrigian, while speaking with newsmen, said the purchase of Tucano fighter jets is an opportunity to enhance the US relationship with Nigeria as well as curbing insecurity.
He said, “The A -29 Super Tucano allows us to reconnect our relationship with Nigeria”.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has said he agreed with those advocating for the granting of amnesty to surrendered Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province insurgents.
He said doing so would encourage more of them in Sambisa forest and other hideouts in the country to come out, drop their arms, and surrender to the military.
