• Raises 2023 elections support funding to $27 million
• Promises additional $5 million to support police and criminal justice reform in Nigeria
• US plans commitment of $627 million to Nigeria in bilateral assistance over the coming year
Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN has met with the United States Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House, Washington, DC, where they both affirmed strategic partnership between their countries.
While they held their meeting on Friday, September 2, 2022, in Washington DC, with the US embracing Nigeria’s energy transition plans, the two leaders recognized the strong cultural ties between the American and Nigerian people, noting the remarkable vibrancy of the Nigerian diaspora.
Vice President Harris applauded Vice President Osinbajo’s leadership for just energy transitions in Africa, and welcomed Nigeria’s recent launch of its Energy Transition Plan, while in line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, the two leaders committed to working closely to support Nigeria’s energy access and energy security goals, as well as their shared global climate goals, the White House has said.
Similarly, Vice President Harris welcomed Vice President Osinbajo’s commitment to free and fair elections in 2023, emphasizing that next year’s vote would be an important milestone for Nigeria’s democracy, the largest in Africa.
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In the White House’s readout of her meeting with Vice President Osinbajo on Friday, Vice President Harris noted strong U.S. support for a credible, transparent, secure, and safe electoral process, including by advancing the US longstanding partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Nigerian civil society with $25 million in elections support, while Vice President Harris informed Vice President Osinbajo that the Biden-Harris Administration will provide an additional $2 million to help support a safer and more secure elections environment.
She also thanked Vice President Osinbajo for Nigeria’s leadership in working to reverse recent democratic backsliding in West Africa.
Underscoring the importance of Nigerian leadership to tackle shared global challenges, Vice President Harris also reiterated the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to addressing the global food crisis, noting that the United States has committed more than $7 billion in food security and humanitarian assistance to African countries since last October.
The Vice Presidents also discussed Nigeria’s complex security challenges and affirmed the US cooperation in counter-terrorism, with Vice President Harris noting the importance of strengthening public trust in law enforcement institutions and highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting police reform.
Consequently, she informed Vice President Osinbajo that the Biden-Harris Administration will commit an additional $5 million to support police and criminal justice reform in Nigeria.
The two leaders also discussed the deteriorating security environment in the Sahel and agreed to continue to work together to address terrorism in the region.
In support of the United States’ strong bilateral relationship with Nigeria, Vice President Harris shared that the Administration intends to commit up to $627 million in bilateral assistance over the coming year, subject to congressional approval, noting that she and President Biden look forward to welcoming Nigeria’s delegation to the December U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC.
