On Thursday evening in Abuja, both United States Vice President Kamala Harris and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres separately spoke with President Bola Tinubu, expressing their unwavering support for Nigeria’s efforts to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
During their conversations, the leaders commended President Tinubu, who also serves as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his pivotal role in spearheading the peace efforts.
The events leading to these calls were triggered when soldiers from the Presidential Guard attempted to depose President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
In response, President Tinubu swiftly rejected the threat to democracy in Niger and initiated dialogue with all parties involved to facilitate the restoration of constitutional order.
Additionally, Vice President Harris, representing the US authorities, praised the reform initiatives of the Federal Government and urged Nigeria to continue in this positive direction, as stated in a release by the President’s spokesman, Dele Alake.
Alake stated: “While pledging to support democracy in Africa including the West African sub-region, Harris also said the U.S. would assist Nigeria in the battle against terrorism.
“The US Vice President spoke on the need for Africa, including Nigeria to embrace energy transitions.
“In his response, President Tinubu thanked Harris for the telephone call and her words of encouragement on the efforts taken so far on the economy, but added that “the developments in the Niger Republic dampen spirits.”
“He said ECOWAS under his watch would do all that is necessary to restore democracy in Niger while counting on the support of the US.
“On Nigeria, President Tinubu craved for more private sector investment, urging the US to lead the way in this regard.
“We had to get rid of the fuel subsidy that is laden with fraud with a few people appropriating the wealth of the country to themselves.
“We would need the US to help push for investments that will help alleviate the effects of subsidy removal in Nigeria. We need foreign direct investment to come in.
“We have abundant gas resources in the country and not being able to fund gas pipelines to Europe and compete in that gas market is a handicap,” he said.
During discussions on climate change, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to exploring alternative energy sources. However, he also appealed to developed nations to recognize the challenges faced by developing countries, including those in Africa.
The two leaders also focused on strengthening bilateral relations between their countries and collaborating on global and regional issues.
Among the topics covered during the approximately 40-minute conversation were the defense of democracy in West Africa and the Sahel region, as well as the importance of digital inclusion.
During his conversation with UN Secretary-General Guterres, President Tinubu expressed his dedication to finding a resolution to the impasse in Niger. He remains hopeful that positive changes can still be achieved in the country and emphasized that ECOWAS would require the UN’s support in restoring democracy and fostering institutions in Niger.
Earlier, Secretary-General Guterres had pledged the UN’s commitment to support President Tinubu’s peace efforts in Niger.
