US Supports Nigeria's Security Council Membership Quest

US Supports Nigeria's Security Council Membership Quest

The US has expressed its support for Nigeria 's quest for a permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr. Terence McCauley said in Abuja that this support was quite imperative as Nigeria remained a good partner of the US in the fight against terrorism.

He said relations between the two countries have further been strengthened by the military cooperation to combat terrorism while they have been very cooperative in the areas of military-to-military engagements.

According to him, “ Nigeria is a member of a multinational trans-Saharan counter terrorism partnership initiative which looks at building capacity and addressing common threats affecting all nations in the region”.

On collaborative efforts on the Gulf of Guinea , the Ambassador said that both countries were working to safeguard the region, although more work needed to be done by building the capacity of the Nigerian Navy, both in terms of its merits and assets as well as addressing the many threats emanating in the Gulf of Guinea .

It would be recalled that the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Nigeria 's Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed had inaugurated the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission in April, which is aimed at expanding mutual cooperation across a broad range of shared interests.

Since the establishment of the Commission, there have been several high-level meetings in Abuja and Washington , focusing on electoral reform, corruption, good governance, energy, the Niger Delta, as well as regional security.

The Commission is expected to meet early in 2011 at Abuja , to hold talks on agriculture and food security.

NAN/AGNES/QASIM/Yinka