The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, on Wednesday said no country can tackle piracy and terrorism without international collaborations.
Entwistle said this during a visit to the headquarters, Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos, as part of preparations for an annual multinational sea exercise in the Gulf of Guinea region billed to hold in the second quarter of the year.
Accompanied by his wife, Pamela, the US Consul General, Jeffery Hawkins, Entwistle was received by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, as well as the Chief Staff Officer (CSO) Rear Admiral JKZ Ango; Commander, NNS Beecroft, Commodore Chris Ezekobe and other principal officers of the command.
While admitting that piracy and terrorism are international crimes, Entwistle said the US was aware of Nigeria’s challenges and was bent on working with the nation’s security to contain them.
“Piracy and terrorism are international crimes and the only way to solve them is to work together across national boundaries. No one nation can tackle the vices alone,” he stated.
On why the US was partnering with Nigeria and what it stands to gain, the Ambassador said “Nigeria is the most important nation in Africa.
“We partner with Nigeria especially, the navy in the Gulf of Guinea operation because we stand to gain from greater security in the region.
“Nigeria being our greatest partner in Africa, we also stand to gain from a stronger Nigerian Navy.”
Responding, Admiral Alade, commended the US for its cooperation, noting that the navy was benefiting a lot from the partnership.
He disclosed that the navy was seriously preparing for the multinational sea exercise and has been consulting with the US representatives, just as he pledged that the navy will continue to keep its part of the agreement.
“The final preparation forum billed for next week is expected to be a good forum where issues will be tabled,” he added.
Tag: James Entwistle
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No nation can fight piracy, terrorism alone – US envoy
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Jega: we’ll give our best in 2015
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said the electoral body is not promising perfect elections in 2015.
Jega spoke yesterday in Abuja when he hosted the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, at the INEC Headquarters.
The INEC chairman said the commission would do its best to give the nation credible polls.
He said: “We are not promising perfect elections in 2015, but we are confident that we will do our best. We have taken some steps to achieve this. For instance, we’re organising staff training in collaboration with development partners, strategic plans and reorganising the staff. We are planning a retreat to finalise the timetable for 2015.
“We are still on the continuous voter register and have held meetings with security agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs) and development partners ahead of 2015. While it is the responsibility of INEC to organise civic and other registration awareness, the commission faces challenges of funding as well.
“It is our responsibility, under the Electoral Act, to do civil education and political education. It has always been challenging because the resources available to discharge that responsibility are usually insufficient, given the enormity of the task of dealing with a large illiterate population and to get them to understand what to do.”
Entwistle promised America’s support, saying: “I have been here for two and a half months and I want to come over and pay my respect to the chairman of Nigeria’s election commission. That’s because as I have stated clearly in some of my public comments, as Nigerians move to elections next year, the United States stand with Nigeria as it moves towards peaceful and transparent elections.
“I have to introduce myself and some of my team to the INEC. Obviously, we will work.”
The envoy spoke on funding of INEC and the activities of politicians.
He said: “The funding of INEC is a Nigerian matter and that of the National Assembly. But we are looking at a way we can help INEC through different technical funds and so on.
“In any election campaign, obviously freedom of speech is important. But in all countries, including mine, politicians have a responsibility to be responsible. In talking about the issues, they should be fair in what they say.
“Any comment by anybody talking about democracies, which will flare up ethnic tensions, promote violence and engage in unfair criticism of the process, is unfortunate and it’s not acceptable…”
“We just met inside to decide what to do and focus on things, such as polling the capabilities of INEC, perhaps supporting Nigerians observer and other groups. Soon, we will get back to you with the details.”
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‘Nigeria seeking US’ help to fight insurgency’
President Goodluck Jonathan is still seeking assistance from the government of the United States of America to capture leaders of the Boko Haram sect, it was learnt yesterday.
Minister of Interior Abba Moro said further assistance from the US would lead to the arrest of the Boko Haram kingpins and pave the way for peace in the country.
Moro said this when the new US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, visited him.
He said Nigeria would always remain indebted to the United States for showing concern and intervening to resolve some of the nation’s security problems.
Moro said the US helped build and upgrade about 227 fire stations and training of firemen in modern fire fighting technologies.
He praised President Barack Obama’s recent declaration of Boko Haram as an international terror group.
Said he: “At the moment we are working in collaboration with the state department to ensure the security of our borders. At the moment we have also gladly accepted the US offer of assistance in intelligent gathering and sharing.
“We face a very serious challenge of building consensus around our democratic development. Yet I assure you that this present administration is committed to revolving a democracy that satisfies all. We will continue to learn from the American experience of building a very strong US in Nigeria.”
Entwistle said: “I want you to know that US, your friend is standing by you, I want you to know USA will always partner you.”
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U.S to support Nigeria’s anti-graft war
The United States new Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, on Wednesday said that the U.S would continue to support Nigeria in fighting corruption and promoting good governance.
Entwistle, in a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy Senior Information Specialist, Mr. Sani Mohammed, also said there were plans to expand bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
“I will continue focusing the United States efforts on partnering with Nigeria to develop measures to more effectively fight corruption and advance transparent and accountable governance,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the envoy as saying in the statement.
He also expressed the readiness of the U.S. government to work closely with the Nigerian government in reducing violence and terrorism.
He added that the U.S. government was going to address “legitimate economic needs” of Nigerian communities vulnerable to violence.