US offers "technical assistance" to end crisis

dimeji akinloye

April 21, 2016 9:48 PM

The ambassador said she felt sorry for Nigerians when she saw long queues at filling stations on her way from the airport on Wednesday.

Fuel Scarcity

US ambassador to the United Nations (UN),

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja during her visit to the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the ambassador said she felt sorry for Nigerians when she saw long queues at filling stations on her way from the airport on Wednesday.

“I think this is something [about which] the embassy has promised to offer whatever technical advice, counsel and technical assistance that we can offer. But we know that some of the best minds in Nigeria are thinking about that, including the ministers in this government,” she said.

According to her, the US will discuss Nigeria on diversification of its economy, noting that the drop in oil prices is causing hardship in oil-dependent countries.

The ambassador had earlier met with some civil society organisations, where her discussions bordered on the deteriorating condition in northern Nigeria, due to the threat posed by Boko Haram insurgency.

“In terms of our meeting with civil society, Nigerian civil society is one of the most vibrant, articulate and rigorous in the world,” she said.

“What we heard a lot about was the question of how the conditions in the north are deteriorating because of the threat posed by Boko Haram.

“The economic hardship in the region has been exacerbated by the presence of Boko Haram and trade across the border has now come to virtual standstill.

“We heard about very difficult humanitarian conditions in Northern Nigeria and we will travel to northern Nigeria tomorrow (Friday) and we will try to get a feel of it for first hand.”

She said the meeting with civil society organisations also stressed on the solutions to abductions and kidnappings, particularly regarding the missing Chibok girls.

She said the US government would share whatever information at its disposal with the federal government.

dimeji akinloye