President Bola Tinubu has expressed his commitment to collaborate with partners to expedite sustainable development, good governance, justice, and fairness for all citizens in Nigeria.
Tinubu emphasized his administration’s dedication to deepening democracy by ensuring adherence to the rule of law.
He made these statements when he received a delegation from the United States Congress led by Senator Cory Booker in Abuja on Wednesday.
The President stressed that while democracy must be defended, it must translate into tangible benefits such as quality healthcare, good education, food security, shelter, and overall economic prosperity.
As a necessary partner for the sustenance of democracy in Africa, Nigeria is well-positioned to set a continental example by delivering good governance to its people.
Tinubu also emphasized the need for the United States to evolve a more prudent and pragmatic partnership with Africa.
He urged the US to consider upscaling critical development programmes to strengthen ties with the continent.
The President noted that Africa needs serious capital, not freebies, and after the Second World War, Europe was impacted, but America developed and executed the Marshall Plan to pull them back up. Today, Europe is standing firm and tall as a result.
Tinubu urged the US to consider a Marshall Plan for Africa.
The President also spoke about the need to address the exploitation of Africa’s mineral resources, which causes conflicts and a lack of alignment.
Tinubu suggested that the US could bring technology to help turn Africa’s resources into economic prosperity and put de-risking finance in place to incentivize companies like John Deere to assist in massively mechanizing Africa’s food production processes.
He emphasized the importance of viewing Africa as a necessary partner for the sustenance of democracy.
Sen. Cory Booker described Tinubu as a visionary leader who made tough but necessary decisions for the good of Nigerians.
He noted that Nigeria and the US are partners bound by shared values of democracy, rule of law, and commitment to peace and good governance.
Booker expressed his enthusiasm about deepening the partnership between Nigeria and the US and noted that there is no greater or more important partner for the US on the African continent than Nigeria.
He praised Tinubu’s leadership style and noted that the US is excited about the opportunity to learn, listen, and meet extraordinary people in Nigeria who share its common values of democracy, entrepreneurship, and commitment to peace and strong growth.
Bello Wakili