United States Vice President Kamala Harris and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, have spoken to President Bola Tinubu over the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic.
In separate telephone conversations, they expressed strong support for Nigeria’s efforts toward the restoration of constitutional order in its northern neighbour.
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According to a statement issued on Friday by Dele Alake, Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communication & Strategy, the two leaders also commended the Nigerian President, who is also the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for spearheading the peace moves.
In her telephone conversation with President Tinubu, Harris praised the reform initiatives of the Federal Government, urging the country to continue in that direction.
While pledging to support democracy in Africa, including the West African sub-region, Harris also said the U.S. would assist Nigeria in the battle against terrorism.
The US Vice President spoke on the need for Africa, including Nigeria, to embrace energy transitions.
Recall that on Wednesday, some soldiers from the Presidential Guard had moved to depose President Mohamed Bazoum.
President Tinubu quickly rejected the threat to democracy in that country, sending a strong delegation to talk with all the parties to restore constitutional order in Niger.
In his response to the phone call, President Tinubu thanked Harris for the telephone call and her words of encouragement on the efforts taken so far on the economy but added that “the developments in the Niger Republic dampen spirits.”
He said ECOWAS, under his watch, would do all that is necessary to restore democracy in Niger while counting on the support of the US.
In Nigeria, Tinubu craved more private-sector investment, urging the US to lead the way in this regard.
The statement quoted him as saying: “We had to get rid of the fuel subsidy that is laden with fraud with a few people appropriating the wealth of the country to themselves.
“We would need the US to help push for investments that will help alleviate the effects of subsidy removal in Nigeria. We need foreign direct investment to come in.
“We have abundant gas resources in the country, and being unable to fund gas pipelines to Europe and compete in that gas market is a handicap.”
On climate change, the President said Nigeria would stay focused on alternate energy, but he pleaded for the developed nations to understand the situation in developing countries, including Africa.
The two leaders also spoke about strengthening relations between their two countries and their shared work on global and regional issues.
Other matters that featured in the discussions that lasted about 40 minutes are defending democracy in West Africa and The Sahel and digital inclusion.
She confirmed the conversation later on her Twitter handle @VP, saying: Today, I spoke with President Tinubu of Nigeria about the strong ties between the Nigerian and American people and our shared work on global and regional issues—from defending democracy in West Africa and the Sahel to promoting digital inclusion and economic growth.”
Speaking with the UN Secretary-General Guterres, President Tinubu said he was doing everything possible to resolve the impasse in Niger.
While expressing the hope that the situation in Niger could still be reversed for the better, he said ECOWAS would require the UN’s support for restoring democracy and building institutions in that country.
Guterres had earlier pledged the commitment of the UN to Tinubu’s peace efforts in Niger.
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