The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hakeem Balogun

  • Expectations, opportunities as Buhari visits Trump at White House

    President Muhammadu Buhari would be hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday at the White House to discuss issues, including fighting terrorism and economic growth.

    Buhari, during the one-day official working visit to the U.S. at the invitation of Trump, would have bilateral meeting with the U.S. president and a working lunch.

    “President Trump looks forward to discussing ways to enhance our strategic partnership and advance our shared priorities: promoting economic growth and reforms, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security, and building on Nigeria’s role as a democratic leader in the region.

    “The relationship of the United States with Nigeria is deep and strong, and Nigeria’s economic growth, security, and leadership in Africa will advance our mutual prosperity,” the White House said.

    International affairs experts say Buhari’s U.S. visit is strategic in many fronts, especially in view of the fact that the Nigeria-U.S. relationship was not too good prior to the inauguration of Buhari as president.

    They say Buhari, being the first democratically-elected African President that would be hosted by Trump since his inauguration and also being the first African leader Trump spoke to on phone following his inauguration as the U.S. president, speak volume.

    They also note that former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Nigeria in March in a first five-country African tour embarked upon by any official of the Trump administration.

    These historic events, the experts say, apart from reaffirming Nigeria’s strategic position in Africa, raised a lot of expectations and opportunities during the visit.

    The Special Adviser to Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, highlighted some of the expectations and opportunities.

    “The meeting is to discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and to advance shared priorities, such as promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.

    “The meeting will further deepen the U.S.-Nigeria relationship as the United States considers Nigeria’s economic growth, security and leadership in Africa to be critical aspects of their strategic partnership.

    “Later in the day, President Buhari will meet with a group of business persons in agriculture and agro-processing, dairy and animal husbandry,” Adesina said.

    Ahead of the visit, meetings were scheduled between senior Nigerian Government officials and executives of major U.S. companies in the areas of agriculture, aviation and transportation.

    The presidency said the Nigerian officials would be meeting with Boeing, the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, on the National Carrier Project.

    On agriculture, the Nigerian delegation will also meet with large equipment manufacturers with focus on harvesting and post harvesting equipment.

    In the area of transportation, the officials will meet with the GE-led consortium for the implementation of the interim phase of the narrow gauge rail concession.

    A substantive concession agreement will be negotiated and finalised, to provide the consortium the opportunity to invest an estimated two billion dollars, to modernise the rail line from Lagos to Kano and from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

    In addition, the concession framework and the interim phase framework agreements are expected to be signed during the visit.

    The Nigerian officials will also meet with U.S.-EXIM Bank and the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation to explore competitive financing arrangements.

    U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, said the Buhari-Trump meeting “will be a very high level meeting; it will help the U.S. to also understand Nigeria’s projection”.

    “There will be independent conversation on security, governance, the Lake Chad Basin and Nigeria’s role as a democratic leader in the region,’’ Symington said.

    Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also described the visit as a sign of the growing cooperation between the U.S. and Nigeria.

    Mohammed said: “There will be independent conversation on security, governance, the Lake Chad Basin and Nigeria’s role as a democratic leader in the region.”

    “The meeting between President Trump and President Buhari will centre majorly on security and the economy and I think it’s not by co-incidence and I think it’s quite important.

    “He ( Buhari ) is the President of the most populous country in Africa, the president of the country with the largest economy in Africa.

    “And this is quite important because it is going to offer the opportunity for the two countries to reset their ties.

    “And I think it’s probably the fact that the world is now understanding that Nigeria is very strategic not just to the sub-region but the entire Africa,” Mohammed said.

    Amb. Hakeem Balogun, Nigeria’s ambassador to Indonesia, sees a very positive outing, saying the Nigeria-U.S. relation has improved greatly since Buhari became president and described the relationship as “very warm”.

    “The Nigeria-U.S. relationship is quite good. It’s been very warm and lovely ever since the coming of this administration.

    “Prior to President Buhari’s ascendancy, the relationship was sort of lukewarm following the American’s complaints over Nigeria’s handling of security issues, human rights allegations, issues of corruption, issues of governance.

    “These are issues which the present government has come in to make the focal point of its administration. And no doubt, even since then, our relationship has been very robust.

    “Our relationship has entered the fulcrum of the Bi-National Commission and based on that, it has formed the bedrock of our relationship; the bi-national commission is the foundation, the basis of the relationship between both countries.

    “Well within the bedrock of that bi-national commission, are issues of good governance, corruption, security and others, which formed the basis of our relationship with the United States.”

    On Corruption, Balogun, who was Nigeria’s former Charge d’ Affaires in U.S., said the U.S. was quite impressed with how far Nigeria had gone in the fight against corruption under Buhari.

    “They (U.S.) really have this belief that the person of Mr President was okay to handle the issue of corruption in Nigeria and that he’s been doing well.

    “So I can definitely tell you that the United States is pleased with what we’ve been doing at that level, ditto the efforts to revive the economy,” Balogun said.

    To corroborate Balogun’s assertion, Trump, during his phone conversation with Buhari in February 2017, discussed the strong cooperation between the U.S. and Nigeria, including on shared security, economic, and governance priorities.

    Trump underscored the importance the United States places on its relationship with Nigeria, and he expressed interest in working with Buhari to expand the strong partnership.

    The leaders agreed to continue close coordination and cooperation in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria and worldwide.

    The U.S. president, particularly expressed support for the sale of aircraft from the U.S. to support Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram.

    Trump thanked Buhari for the leadership he has exercised in Africa and emphasised the importance of a strong, secure, and prosperous Nigeria that continues to lead in the region and in international forums.

    Balogun also said Buhari’s visit would be a win-win for both countries considering Nigeria’s ability to rally Africa on any issue at the international stage, a diplomatic advantage, which U.S. desperately needs.

    “The U.S. recognises Nigeria as the leader on the continent. It shows that if they (U.S.) have to have a foothold in Africa or to do something in Africa, anything positive, they need the support of Nigeria.

    “All our activities in the troubled spots in Africa – the championed peace on the continent and even beyond the continent; we’ve always been there on peaceful missions around the world,” Balogun said.

    NAN

  • Nigeria protests ‘violation’ of embassy in Washington

    Nigeria protests ‘violation’ of embassy in Washington

    Nigeria is accusing the United States secret service of violating its Washington DC embassy premises.

    The embassy has already lodged a complaint to this effect with the U.S government, according to the acting ambassador/charge d’affaires, Hakeem Balogun.

    Balogun said the alleged violation took place during a fracas between two local workers when police entered the premises.

    He branded the police action as a violation of diplomatic protocol.

    Balogun said a “protest note” had been transmitted to the U.S department of state.

    “We have sent a protest note in respect of the entrance by the police into the embassy. It is against diplomatic protocols,” he said.

    “They are not supposed to enter the embassy. The protest letter is in respect of the entrance of the police into the embassy.”

    The Nigerian envoy also said he has since taken appropriate and timely, administrative and diplomatic steps to address the incident.

    “These measures include the immediate and indefinite suspension of the two local staff members involved in the fracas.

    “There is the establishment of a committee to investigate and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against the two locally-recruited staff members involved in the fracas,” Balogun added.

    He dismissed a media report in Nigeria that U.S police officers were called in to restore order in the embassy on account of “a physical fight.”

    He also described as baseless, claims that the fracas took place “in the full glare of dozens of guests and visa applicants.”

    NAN

     

  • Nigeria protests to U.S. over Embassy’s violation

    Nigeria protests to U.S. over Embassy’s violation

    The Nigerian Embassy in Washington has protested to the U.S. Government over the violation of its premises by the Secret Service agents following fracas between two local workers.

    The Acting Ambassador/Charge d’Affaires, Hakeem Balogun, told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a “protest note” had been transmitted to the U.S. Department of State.

    Balogun condemned the violation of the diplomatic protocol over altercation by two Embassy drivers adding: “The embassy has as well transmitted a protest note to the U.S. Department of State.

    “We have sent a protest note in respect of the entrance by the police into the embassy. It is against diplomatic protocols.

    “They are not supposed to enter the embassy. The protest letter is in respect of the entrance of the police into the embassy,” Balogun said.

    The Nigerian envoy also said that he “has since taken appropriate and timely, administrative and diplomatic steps to address the incident.

    “These measures include the immediate and indefinite suspension of the two local staff members involved in the fracas.

    “There is the establishment of a Committee to investigate and recommend appropriate disciplinary actions against the two locally-recruited staff members involved in the fracas.”

    Balogun dismissed the publication by a Nigerian newspaper alleging that “the United States Police was called in to restore order in the Embassy as a result of ‘a physical fight’.

    The ambassador also described as baseless, claims that the fracas took place “in the full glare of dozens of guests and visa applicants”.

    “To buttress its report, the Newspaper attached a photograph claiming to be the ‘chaotic situation’ that erupted as a result of the fight,” he said.

    According to him, however, the dispute between two of its drivers took place in the basement area of the Chancery where Embassy drivers are stationed.

    “The physical encounter was, therefore, not in the full glare of the public as to have caused a chaotic situation.

    “A cursory look and careful analysis of the picture attached by the Newspaper will reveal to anyone conversant with the Embassy’s premises that the picture used has no physical connection to the Embassy.

    “This was clearly an effort at deception,” the ambassador said.

    On the issue of the nationalities of the Embassy’s local staff members, he said the primary qualification for employment into the non-diplomatic workforce is knowledge of the job, not the nationality of the applicant.

    “The Newspaper went further to question the composition of the nationalities of the Embassy’s locally recruited staff”.

    “This is an international best practice. Be that as it may, it is important to inform that out of the Mission’s current local staff strength of 44, there are 37 Nigerians.

    “Seven are non-Nigerians from India, The Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka,” he said.

    Balogun assured that the Mission would continue to do everything within its mandate to protect and defend the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians in the U.S. (NAN)

  • Nigerian Embassy in Washington pays workers, ends impasse

    Nigerian Embassy in Washington pays workers, ends impasse

    Local workers at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, the United States have been paid their three-month arrears, ending their one-day sit-in on Tuesday.

    Some of the workers confirmed to the Correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that they had received their cheques for the three-month arrears in dispute.

    The Acting Ambassador at the Embassy, Hakeem Balogun, had told the news agency on Tuesday that the Embassy was operational and not shut down.

    Balogun, however, said the Federal Government was addressing the issue and confirmed that there was a sit-in by some members of the local staff.

    The Chief Driver at the Embassy, Mr Uyi Izebije, who had been hostile to the NAN Correspondent, said he had been paid.

    “Monday was Public Holiday, so we didn’t work on Monday. I will not tell you if we worked on Tuesday or not because you are not my employer.

    “But I worked yesterday (Wednesday). Yes, I have been paid. I was paid three months. I’m at the Embassy now working.

    “I can see my colleagues at their various work posts”, Izebije told NAN.

    The Head of the Drivers, however, refused to confirm if his colleagues had been paid, saying it was not his business to monitor the payment of other workers.

    Another worker at the Embassy, Mr Charles Uwaje, also confirmed to NAN that he had been paid the three-month arrears.

    “We got paid yesterday (Wednesday). The atmosphere at the Embassy is cool and calm.

    “We’re all at our various offices attending to our duties”, Uwaje, who worked in Administration section, said.

    Another member of staff, Ms Abimbola Akpata, told NAN that they had been paid adding “the issue has now been resolved.

    “Here in administration, we are at work and everything has been resolved. The issue about salary has been resolved by the administration and we are all back to work.

    “We worked yesterday (Wednesday). We received our pay cheque yesterday and everything was resolved yesterday. I received three months salaries.

    “The atmosphere now at the Embassy is very calm and very peaceful. Everybody is back to work”, Aptata said.

    Another female member of staff at the Embassy, who preferred anonymity, also confirmed that they had been paid.

    “As at yesterday (Wednesday), we were paid; I worked yesterday. I even worked on Tuesday.

    “The atmosphere at the Embassy is normal. You know money makes people excited; once they’ve received their cheques, everybody becomes excited.

    “Now it’s normal, there’s no more crisis, everybody has gone back to their normal places of duty”, the official, said.

    The Head of Chancery, Mr Mfawa Abam, told NAN that there were attempts by some of the local staff to blackmail and embarrass the Embassy with their action.

    To avoid the destruction and theft of property at the Embassy, Abam said the Chancery intervened by collecting keys to some of the property.

    Abam, however, noted that some of the staff recorded the actions and posted the videos on social media with a view to embarrassing the Embassy and the country.

    “Yesterday, as directed from Abuja, all their entitlements were paid with the money in question. We paid all of them without anything left.

    “So, they have been settled and everybody went away happy yesterday even this morning, everybody was happy.

    “They have been paid up to date based on the first allocation. The purpose the money was meant has been done; we paid all of them, all the three months, we paid,” he said.

    “So the three months that they were owed were paid. The money they sent was just to take care of the last three months. The local members of staff were all paid the three months.

    “Everybody is happy, they started working that yesterday, they were even asking for work. Today, everybody is up and doing, so there’s no problem; it’s quite peaceful and we’re all happy.

    “The atmosphere here is calm, there’s no problem since yesterday,” the Head of Chancery said.

  • Nigerian embassy in Washington operational – Acting Ambassador

    The Nigerian Embassy in Washington  is open and fully operational,  acting ambassador, Hakeem Balogun, has said.

    Balogun told the correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the U.S. that the report  making the rounds that the embassy was shut down was false.

    “The embassy works as normal; as we’re talking now, I’m still at the office working. So it is not correct for anybody to say that the embassy is shut down; there was nothing like that.

    “But there was a sit-in by some local staff who said they would not work  over some arrears but it wasn’t as if the embassy was shut down.

    “Even some of those who were supposed to embark on sit-in were still working and did not join their colleagues.

    “They have been paid up till March 2017 but there were some arrears of October to December 2016 that were yet to be paid.

    “It was just an agitation to draw attention to the three months arrears owed them but not only them, some ministry staff were also affected.

    “But what they have done was to cry out about the arrears for everybody to hear and everybody has now heard,” Balogun said.

    The Nigerian envoy explained that the Federal Government was making  efforts to clear the arrears and ensure that   salaries and allowances were  up-to-date.

    According to him, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the issue and other challenges facing the embassy and is gradually addressing them.

    “The ministry is making every effort to ensure the arrears are paid and you will recall that the virement was sent to the National Assembly for approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Now the virement has been approved. As soon as the money is released, all  arrears will be paid,” Balogun said.

  • How Buhari restored Nigeria/U.S. warm ties – Ag. Ambassador

    How Buhari restored Nigeria/U.S. warm ties – Ag. Ambassador

    Amb. Hakeem Balogun, Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria, Washington, has described the relationship between Nigeria and the U.S. as “very warm”.

    Balogun told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the relationship had improved greatly since Muhammadu Buhari became president.

    According to him, the Nigeria-U.S. relationship was not too good prior to the inauguration of Buhari as president.

    “The relationship is quite good. It’s been very warm and lovely ever since the coming of this administration.

    “Prior to President Buhari’s ascendancy, the relationship was sort of lukewarm following the American’s complaints over Nigeria’s handling of security issues, human rights, allegations, issues of corruption, issues of governance.

    “These are issues which the present government has come in to make the focal point of its administration. And no doubt, even since then, our relationship has been very robust.

    “Our relationship has entered on the fulcrum of the Bi-National Commission and based on that, it has formed the bedrock of our relationship.

    “The bi-national commission is the foundation, the basis of the relationship between both countries.

    “Well within the bedrock of that bi-national commission, are issues of good governance, corruption, security and what others, which formed the basis of our relationship with the United States.”

    On Corruption, Balogun, who is Nigeria’s acting Ambassador at U.S., said the U.S. was quite impressed with how far Nigeria had gone in the fight against corruption under Buhari.

    “They (U.S.) really have this belief that the person of Mr President was okay to handle the issue of corruption in Nigeria and that he’s been doing well.

    “I was in a meeting where former President Barack Obama publicly acclaimed this that they were quite satisfied with the way we were handling corruption issues.

    “And he’s open to us to see what the government was doing regarding corrupt practices, either in governance or in the society at large.

    “So I can definitely tell you that the United States is pleased with what we’ve been doing at that level; ditto the efforts to revive the economy.

    “You know this issue of corruption is a global thing; it is worldwide and we have to share best practices.

    “How we fight against the terrorism is something that is really being a focal point for the government of the United States,” he said.

    The Nigeria envoy pointed out that Nigeria’s strategy in the fight against Boko Haram was commended and recommended by the meeting of the Global Coalition Working to Defeat ISIS hosted by U.S. within the week.

    “That (Nigeria’s strategy) was part of the outcomes of the conference, where the coalition of countries fighting against terrorism, about 68 of them, met.

    “There were only four of us from Africa, where we also talked about how best to share information, stop international terrorism financing and international weapons exchange across borders.

    “Nigeria was singled out in our efforts to combat the Boko Haram menace and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson actually commended our delegation.

    “Tillerson commended Nigeria for the efforts we’ve put in tackling global terrorism as it affects us,” he said.

     

  • ‘Nigeria spent $2.6bn on Boko Haram humanitarian crisis in 2016’

    Nigeria spent more than $2.6 billion  in 2016 to address the humanitarian challenges caused by Boko Haram terrorists, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, has said.

    The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olonisakin stated this at the meeting of the ‘Global Coalition Working to Defeat ISIS’ in Washington, D.C.

    “After  over 2.6 billion dollars was spent by the Nigerian Government to address humanitarian needs in 2016 – more needs were seen when areas were recovered from Boko Haram.

    “Many in this room joined us in Oslo, Norway just last February to show support with Nigeria.

    “Coalition is fundamental. We, therefore, commend Secretary Rex Tillerson and President Donald Trump for remaining committed to fighting the global enemy of us all – terrorism,” Olonisakin said.

    The defence chief explained that Iraq’s story in the war against ISIS was similar to Nigeria’s story in the fight against Boko Haram.

    “This meeting, therefore, will further strengthen our collective resolve and determination to destroy and defeat ISIS.

    “To this end, Nigeria is prepared to work with the coalition in the pursuit of the first lines of efforts towards the realisation of the aims of the global coalition,” he said.

    He commended the steady progress made in Iraq, and Syria in denying ISIS access to territories and closing up their supply routes.

    According to him, it is, therefore, imperative that as part of the objectives of the meeting, global leaders consider the value of timely sharing of information and best practices on addressing cross-border threats.

    He also emphasised the need for mobilisation of resources for partners in the conflict and confronting violent extremist organizations with the digital battle space or cyberspace.

    He added that reshaping the public narratives around ISIS to one of failure, was also critical in the battle to defeat ISIS.

    “Let me also add that this meeting is of great importance to Nigeria.

    “This is because, Nigeria’s effort to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists is viewed as part of wider efforts to combat violent extremism globally especially, the defeat of ISIS.

    “Nigeria is open and willing to adopt strategies from the coalition that could further enhance its success story,” Olonisakin said.

    U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in his welcome remarks, said “it is indeed encouraging to see the attendance”.

    “When the forces of ISIS tune into their TVs and their computer monitors, they will see the strength of a combined 68 nations and organisations.

    “Together, we share a resolve to deal ISIS a lasting defeat. Our coalition is united in stopping ISIS resurgence, halting its global ambitions and discrediting its ideological narrative.

    “And we’re ready to grow stronger and stay aggressive in this battle.

    “President Trump, in his recent address to the joint session of Congress, made clear that it is the policy of the United States to demolish and destroy this barbaric terrorist organisation”.

    NAN reports that the meeting was attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs and senior leaders of the 68 countries of the global coalition working to defeat ISIS.

    NAN also reports that among those who attended the meeting were Chargé d’affaires of the Nigeria Embassy in Washington, Hakeem Balogun and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.