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Tag: James Entwistle

  • Nigeria will not break up – U.S

    Nigeria will not break up – U.S

    The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has said that although the country is currently in a very challenging situation, there are no signs that it will break up after the 2015 elections as asserted in some quarters.

    Entwistle, who spoke on a live interview monitored in Abuja, said Nigeria is gradually moving towards a very bright future.

    The envoy said: “It is a ridiculous assertion. Here we are sitting in Nigeria in 2015, do any of you see any signs of this country breaking up? I don’t. I see Nigeria in a challenging time, nonetheless gradually moving forward to a very bright future and the United States looks forward to working with you towards that bright future. When I spend time with young Nigerians, I can’t help but have a strong optimism about this country.”

    Speaking on the forthcoming general election, Entwistle assured that his country would continue to provide support to Nigeria in its election process.

    He also asserted that “in a democratic election there is no place for violence.”

    Entwistle added: “Every time I call on a politician or a candidate in this country, I ask him or her if they will publicly take a non-violence pledge on camera. Commit themselves to not fomenting or condoning violence before, during or after the elections.

    “I have been very happy to see that Nigerian civil society, Nigerian media and entertainers like 2Face with his ‘vote, not fight’ campaign has picked up this project.

    “The accountability aspect of this is crucial.

    “I believe in the democracy and I have observed elections around the world and there is no place for violence.

    “One thing I have observed as a key benchmark in democratic rule in any country is when the loser comes out to accept results.

    “We can make violence unacceptable in public arena.”

  • Boko Haram: No arms embargo on Nigeria – U.S

    Boko Haram: No arms embargo on Nigeria – U.S

    Contrary to the news making the rounds that United States refused to sell arms to Nigeria, the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, Friday said such imposition does not exist.

    Entwistle, however, admitted that the military training was stopped because of a strain in the agreement.

    The envoy said there was never arms embargo on Nigeria, stressing that the relationship between both countries was still cordial.

    Reports in some quarters had blamed the U.S for Nigeria’s cash for arms deal scandal in South Africa.

    Public affairs analysts had said Nigeria took the South Africa option when U.S refused to sell arms to the country to prosecute its war with against Boko Haram.

    The disagreement, The Nation gathered was responsible for the termination of a U.S training programme for Nigeria’s battalion.

    Entwistle in a television interview monitored in Abuja denied the said arms embargo, describing the claims as “nonsense.”

    “Ideas that there are arms embargo and that the US has cut Nigeria off are nonsense.

    “No country is doing more to support Nigeria in its fight against terror right now than the U.S. We can’t talk about the details in public but I can assure you that we are with you every step of the way.

    “We have a number of discussions right now for various pieces of equipment in the air, on the ground and army personnel carriers. We share information everyday with your army that they can use operationally.

    “The notion that we have cut you off is nonsense.

    “When we transfer or consider transferring arms to any country, by U.S law, there is a process that we have to go through. We ask that does this make sense for the country and other human rights considerations. Sometimes the answer is no much more often the answer is yes, “the envoy stated.

    On the termination of military training, he said, “We have good relations with the Air Force, Navy and Army at the working level. We are in touch everyday, working together.

    “Late last year, I told President Jonathan that the U.S wants Nigeria to win the war on terror and we stand ready to help in any and appropriate way.”

     

  • Boko Haram: U.S not undermining Nigeria’s efforts – Envoy

    Boko Haram: U.S not undermining Nigeria’s efforts – Envoy

    The United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has debunked media reports that America was not doing enough in helping Nigeria to contain terrorism in the country.

    Entwistle debunked the notion at a news conference in Yola, Thursday.

    He said the U.S Government was heavily involved in supporting Nigerian Government’s response to the Boko Haram menace.

    “I disagree completely with these headlines; they are quite inadequate. Our two countries have strong military relationship.

    “Over the years, we share a lot of equipment, some of the newest vessels of your navy come from United States, so the idea that U.S. doesn’t support Nigeria is not true,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the envoy as saying at the briefing.

    He said the support to Nigeria was in many forms, including training of soldiers and information sharing.

    On his perception of Boko Haram, the ambassador said he was not sure of the group’s objectives.

    “There are still some open questions on who they are, what they want.

    “A year ago, I would have said they were religiously motivated. But as they killed more and more Muslims, it’s hard for me to believe that they were motivated by religion.

    “Who are these guys and what do they want? I don’t think we really understand them, “Entwistle said.

  • Ebola, a great threat to ECOWAS stability – U.S

    Ebola, a great threat to ECOWAS stability – U.S

    The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, has described the Ebola Virus Disease as great threat to the existence of the Economic Community of West African States.

    He said the answer to the present situation was to maintain a focus on regional economic development.

    The ambassador also revealed that total U.S- ECOWAS trade was valued at $23.3 billion in 2013.

    Entwistle, who spoke at the U.S-ECOWAS Launch of the USAID/West Africa Trade Hub and African Partners Network, held in Abuja, said, “Today, a great threat to this movement looms over this region – the Ebola outbreak.  This disease not only threatens human health, but it also threatens the stability of West Africa’s economies.  That is why the United States joins the international community, partnering with those in West Africa, to fight this threat.

    “Since the first cases emerged, the U.S has expanded its efforts and provided expertise in response to the increased severity of the outbreak.  We are stepping up efforts on the ground.  We currently have some 100 specialists, including some of our best and brightest from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from USAID.  West Africa is in for a long fight against this terrible disease, and we are in the fight with you.

    “But, even in the midst of this regional emergency, we must maintain a focus on regional economic development.

    “Increased free trade offers a powerful way to meet West Africa’s need for stronger economies and higher incomes, today and in the future. Open borders mean lower, more stable prices for staple goods, empowering local consumers to better access these foods year round for healthy, strong families. Local business can produce for a wider market, enabling higher revenues and more jobs for the region’s growing population. Free trade also allows farmers to access growing markets, further increasing production and generating private sector investment in agriculture.”

     

  • ‘Why FG withheld Ebola drug approval’

    ‘Why FG withheld Ebola drug approval’

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Monday said the Federal government withheld its approval for the Anti-Ebola drug Nano-Silver produced by a Nigerian scientist in the diaspora because it did not meet basic research requirements.

    Chukwu made this known when he received the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, in his office in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the drug was made available to the Emergency Operations Centre in Lagos on August 14.

    “The experimental drug, Nano Silver did not meet the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics Code.

    “Accordingly, the approval was withheld by the National Health Research Ethics Committee,” Chukwu said.

    He said the ambassador’s visit was an opportunity to share ideas and information on Ebola virus.

    “He is the spokesperson for the United States’ government here in Nigeria, and so he came to me as the Chief Public Health Officer of the country to exchange views with me,’’ NAN quoted the minister as saying during the envoy’s visit.

    Prof. Chukwu said Entwistle also visited to know if there was any new development that recently cropped up on the Ebola virus.

    Entwistle had commended the efforts of the Federal Government in curbing the spread of the Ebola virus in the country.

    He said the aim of the visit was to discuss further on the anti-Ebola cooperation between the U.S government and the Nigerian government.

    The ambassador also praised the work done at the emergency operation centre and the isolation centre, saying he understood that they were working hard.

    “You have all seen the headlines over the weekend, this is an issue that we have to keep working hard on, it may be with us for a while but there are some encouraging signs.

    “Your government is doing a good job on contact tracing; I noticed when I flew back here on Thursday night into the country, before I left the plane I filed in the questionnaire.

    “I was very impressed because I had to put in my seat number which is a very good idea, so that if you have to trace the guy who was seating next to me you will know where I am.

    “I have been very impressed by this thing so I encourage the government of Nigeria to keep at it, which I know they will,’’ he said.

    Entwistle said the two countries had a broad partnership to keep collaborating, cooperating and working hard to make the world a better place.

    He said he could not think of a more important example of cooperation than the Ebola cooperation.

  • US won’t give up on Nigeria, says envoy

    US won’t give up on Nigeria, says envoy

    The United States of America says its support for Nigeria in tackling the war against terror is total. It is optimistic that Nigeria will win the war come whatever may.

    The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, speaking at an event to mark his country’s 238th independence anniversary in Abuja, said Washington also remains committed to helping Nigeria achieve free, fair, peaceful and credible elections next year. “As we stand with Nigeria in its democratic journey, I want to make it clear that the assistance that we have offered over the years is in the same spirit that was offered to us by many other nations as we began our democratic journey,” he said.

    “You have many friends and partners who want Nigeria to succeed and the United States stands at the front of that line.”

    But he also explained that his country is only concentrating on what to do things with Nigeria and not for Nigeria.

    He said: “We want Nigeria to win its war on terror and we are here to support you in that effort. It may seem that we suddenly sprang to Nigeria’s aid in the wake of the horrific Chibok girls’ kidnappings but the truth is that we have been working closely with you on this issue for a long time and that journey will continue.

    “We see a lot of ourselves in you. We are a nation made up of many peoples who have had to figure out how to live together in peace and harmony.

    “We struggled through civil war, we struggled to develop economically and reduce poverty and we struggled to ensure equal rights for all of our citizens.”

    The ceremony, which was held at the United States Embassy in Abuja, was attended by members of the diplomatic community and Nigerian governors, party leaders and individuals from the entertainment industry.

  • We won’t give up on Nigeria, says US envoy

    We won’t give up on Nigeria, says US envoy

    THE United States of America (USA) declared yesterday that it won’t give up on Nigeria. Its Ambassador in Nigeria, James Entwistle, said in Kano that Washington would not relent in assisting Nigeria and Nigerians toward realising the country’s full potential.

    Entwistle, who was on a visit to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano said that Nigeria had achieved a lot in the economic, health, cultural and educational sectors.

    “But that’s the whole point of this; to help build up your capacity and it’s clear we are making great stride on this,” he said.

    The envoy said that the U.S. would partner with Nigeria to deal with all aspects of the economy, adding that its recent focus was in the area of health, which has been rewarding in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

  • Sultan urges global efforts to combat terrorism

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday in Sokoto called for global efforts to combat terrorism and extremism in Nigeria.

    Abubakar made the call when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, visited him in his palace.

    The Sultan said terrorism, violence and extremism were common to the two major religions, Islam and Christianity.

    According to him, no country can solely fight terrorism or extremism. Nobody will wish his country to be embroiled in violence or crises.

    He said the people must be educated in order to fight the menace effectively.

    On the 2015 elections, the Sultan said Nigerians were determined to ensure transparent, credible, fair and acceptable polls in 2015 and beyond.

    “We want elections not based on ethnicity or religion; Nigerians need peace and harmony. This is the Nigeria of our dreams, where all the citizens are free and equal.”

    Abubakar urged the U.S. and other countries to help Nigeria to achieve its goals and commended the U.S. government for its positive disposition towards Nigeria.

     

  • How INEC can conduct fair polls, by Wamakko

    How INEC can conduct fair polls, by Wamakko

    Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko suggested yesterday two options to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a free, fair and transparent election in 2015.

    First, he said, the agency should conduct the elections in a day. The second option is to conduct the presidential election last.

    He said doing so would ensure the transparency of the agency as an independent electoral umpire.

    Wamakko spoke when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, visited him at the Government House, Sokoto.

    He said: “It is the only option that would ensure transparent elections in the country.

    “If that will not be possible, let the elections be conducted in this order – the House of Assembly, governorship, National Assembly and the Presidential election,” he said.

    Wamakko, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), said it was only by doing so that there will be free, fair and credible elections to usher in leaders who will ensure the well being of Nigerians.

    He noted that no amount of intimidation would deter nor frustrate the progressives.

    The governor explained that the progressives would mobilise its supporters to desist from violence and thuggery, so that there would be free and fair elections.

    “The state government would continue to partner the United States government to improve on the well being of the people in the areas of education, water supply and agriculture, among others,” he said.

    Entwistle urged Nigerians to shun violence, in order to have free, fair and credible elections to ensure good governance.

    “Free and fair elections would ensure good democratic governance, for peace, progress and political growth of the country”, he pointed out.

    According to Entwistle, “the time has come for Nigerian politicians to shun political violence, as a means of ensuring transparent elections.

  • Police train 160,000 for elections

    Police train 160,000 for elections

    The police are training 160,000 officers and men on election duties, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar has said.

    The police chief said the training would boost the knowledge of the officers and men on electoral laws, election security, crowd control skills, anti-riot operation, covert intelligence operations and general principles of democratic policing.

    A statement yesterday by Force spokesman, Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said the IGP spoke in Abuja when he hosted the United States Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle.

    Mba said Abubakar assured that the police would guarantee hitch-free governorship elections in Ekaiti and Osun states in June and August.

    The U.S ambassador promised increased collaboration between his country and the Nigeria Police in capacity building and other security-related matters.

    He assured of the U.S government’s commitment to the growth and success of Nigeria’s democracy and economy.