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BusinessWorld Covers US Nigeria Bi-National Commission Talks
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published April 6th, 2010
- Washington File
- Unrated
AS part of preparations to the signing of the U.S. Nigeria Bi-national Commission, the Bureau of African Affairs of the Department of State is holding a roundtable talk on Monday at the Department of State.
BusinessWorld Newspaper will be on hand to cover the talks which would take place in Washington D.C and chaired by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador Jonnie Carson.
On April 7, 2010, the two countries are expected to sign the establishment of a bi-national commission which aims to address some of the apprehensions of America about Nigeria.
The proposal for a bi-national commission was one of the outcomes of talks between Nigerian government officials and visiting US Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton in Abuja in August 2009.
Mr. David Goldwyn, the U.S. State Department Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, while commenting on the proposed commission while on a visit to Nigeria in November 2009 said that the Commission would provide the platform for senior officials of the American government from the Department of Energy and other agencies in charge of the electricity sector regulation, as well as natural resources management services, to dialogue with their Nigerian counterparts on issues of mutual concern.
Goldwyn said the U.S. government was willing to see the commission take off by December, but was awaiting the Federal Government to come up with the details of the structure and plan of the partnership, which would also focus on good governance, electoral reform, anti-corruption, Niger Delta and food security.
The State Depratment, he indicated, will use the opportunity of the commission to avail Nigeria on how the U.S. energy sector transformed from being state-regulated to market-driven, to help establish a pricing system, that would encourage more private investment and growth of the sector.
He said the Commission would also hold discussions on the issue of how to introduce renewable energy and energy efficiency in the country, adding that as a nation that is endowed with enormous gas resources, there should be increased investment in infrastructure to harness it for the benefit of the citizenry in terms of power generation and supply.
While receiving letter of credence from Professor Adebowale Adefuje, Nigeria’s new Ambassador to the United States last week, President Barack Obama stated that said “Nigeria and US have a tradition of positive bilateral relations based on a mutual commitment to development and peace, adding that “the upcoming launch of the US Nigeria binational commission illustrates our desire to further enhance this relationship.”
BusinessWorld Newspaper will be on hand to cover the talks which would take place in Washington D.C and chaired by Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador Jonnie Carson.
On April 7, 2010, the two countries are expected to sign the establishment of a bi-national commission which aims to address some of the apprehensions of America about Nigeria.
The proposal for a bi-national commission was one of the outcomes of talks between Nigerian government officials and visiting US Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton in Abuja in August 2009.
Mr. David Goldwyn, the U.S. State Department Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, while commenting on the proposed commission while on a visit to Nigeria in November 2009 said that the Commission would provide the platform for senior officials of the American government from the Department of Energy and other agencies in charge of the electricity sector regulation, as well as natural resources management services, to dialogue with their Nigerian counterparts on issues of mutual concern.
Goldwyn said the U.S. government was willing to see the commission take off by December, but was awaiting the Federal Government to come up with the details of the structure and plan of the partnership, which would also focus on good governance, electoral reform, anti-corruption, Niger Delta and food security.
The State Depratment, he indicated, will use the opportunity of the commission to avail Nigeria on how the U.S. energy sector transformed from being state-regulated to market-driven, to help establish a pricing system, that would encourage more private investment and growth of the sector.
He said the Commission would also hold discussions on the issue of how to introduce renewable energy and energy efficiency in the country, adding that as a nation that is endowed with enormous gas resources, there should be increased investment in infrastructure to harness it for the benefit of the citizenry in terms of power generation and supply.
While receiving letter of credence from Professor Adebowale Adefuje, Nigeria’s new Ambassador to the United States last week, President Barack Obama stated that said “Nigeria and US have a tradition of positive bilateral relations based on a mutual commitment to development and peace, adding that “the upcoming launch of the US Nigeria binational commission illustrates our desire to further enhance this relationship.”
