Nigeria is committed to deepening its bilateral relations with the United States under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar.
Speaking at the 248th U.S. independence anniversary dinner organized by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Tuesday, Tuggar highlighted the strategic importance of the Nigeria-U.S. Binational Cooperation agreement.
Represented by Amb. Janet Olisa, Director of Regions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuggar emphasized that enhancing Nigeria-U.S. ties would further solidify their long standing cooperation and friendship.
“Since our independence, we have been two nations that have continued to watch our friendship, bond, and cooperation closely,” Tuggar said.
He noted that one of the Tinubu administration’s key foreign policy objectives is the Nigeria-U.S. Binational Cooperation agreement.
“One of the major developments that happened this year was the Nigeria-U.S. Binational Cooperation agreement, and it is a testament of how important and cordial our relationship is,” Tuggar stated.
He added, “The Secretary of State just left Nigeria not too long ago. And to ensure that we had a smooth running, the Deputy Secretary of State, who had just been confirmed, hurried to Nigeria to ensure that we had a very successful Binational.”
The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen security cooperation between the two nations.
“We are also looking into security, which is significant to Africa as a continent, particularly Nigeria. We are looking at strengthening the security bond between us; we are thankful for all the security cooperation that we are receiving,” he said.
Tuggar expressed gratitude for the U.S. interventions in Nigeria’s health sector, particularly in HIV/AIDS programs.
“We are also grateful that in the Ministry of Health, we’ve been able to get some collaborations in all the HIV/AIDS programmes,” he said, adding, “That is the bond of friendship, as we welcome the incoming ambassador, Richard Mills. We know he’s going to have a wonderful time here.”
Ambassador Richard Mills, in his remarks, underscored the shared commitment to democracy and freedom between Nigeria and the U.S.
“As I settle into Abuja and into my role as the 22nd U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, I look forward to meeting many of you and working together to strengthen our ties,” Mills said.
Amb. David Greene, U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission and Charge d’Affairs, described Nigeria-U.S. relations as a “whirlwind in the best way.”
He pointed out the significant number of Nigerians living and working in the U.S., which underscores the importance of people-to-people ties.
“Our bond has always been strong. But lately it feels like we’re really sprinting forward together to make Nigerians and Americans more secure, healthier, and more prosperous,” Greene said.
The event was attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from various sectors, reflecting the broad-based support for strengthening Nigeria-U.S. relations.