By Adedapo Adesanya
The United States of America (USA) has reiterated its commitment to support its relationship with Nigeria as President Joe Biden met with President Bola Tinubu on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, India, on Sunday.
Recall that President Tibunu is in the Indian capital on invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the to-day summit, which concluded on Sunday, September 10.
President Biden said the world’s largest economy will “reinforce our enduring commitment to the U.S.-Nigeria relationship and to the longstanding friendship between our two countries and peoples.”
President Biden welcomed the Tinubu Administration’s steps to reform Nigeria’s economy and thanked President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to defend and preserve democracy and the rule of law in Niger and the broader region.
Upon his assumption of office on May 29, Mr Tinubu carried out some reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy regime that alone cost N4.3 trillion in 2022. Also, he allowed the Naira to float freely against the Dollar by liberalising the exchange rate system as well as the removal of some of the heads of government bodies, including that of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On the international scene, Mr Tinubu assumed leadership of the ECOWAS bloc and has been the face of the group’s tense negotiations with the military junta in Niger, which dislodged President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26. This has included him raising the prospect of military intervention should diplomatic efforts fail to reinstate Mr Bazoum.
The US also noted that Nigeria’s invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigeria’s important global role as Africa’s largest democracy and economy.
Modupe Gbadeyanka