Nigeria’s Vice President lauds Nigeria-US relations

Nigeria’s Vice President lauds Nigeria-US relations

Nigeria’s Vice-President, Namadi Sambo has commended the United States of America for its support and assistance towards ensuring speedy transformation of the Nigerian economy.

Sambo gave the commendation on Thursday, when he received the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Terrence McCulley and two American Congressmen at the Presidential Villa.

He expressed delight in the readiness of the United States to further strengthen cooperation with Nigeria.

The vice-president noted that there had been great improvement in bilateral relations between Nigeria and the US since 1999, after the transition to democracy.

Power sector transformation

He said that the Federal Government had obtained a grant from the U.S. government to boost electricity supply in Nigeria.

He said the US had also provided the necessary consultancy services for small and medium hydro-power plants.

Sambo told the ambassador and the visiting Congressmen that Nigeria was building 10 new thermal power plants to address the problem of inadequate electricity supply.

He said the projects would add about 5,000 megawatts to the nation’s national electricity grid when completed.
 He said that an American company, GE, which was handling some of the power and railway projects in the country, was building a training institute in Rivers to support the huge investments in the power and transport sectors.

Revamping alternative transportation means

The Vice President said that the Nigerian Government had so far bought about 25 GE locomotives to revive the nation’s railway system, saying that “we are planning to build a new connection within the railway lines.’’

On security, the vice--president assured that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration would continue to redouble its efforts in ensuring peace on the African continent.

Earlier, the American ambassador had congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice- President Namadi Sambo on their successful inauguration, last Sunday.

He lauded the leadership role being played by Nigeria across the African continent.

 McCulley assured that he would continue to build and work on issues that mattered to United States and to Nigeria.

“Nigeria has an important voice in Africa and important voice in the world today,” the American envoy stressed.

NAN/Williams