Nigeria, U.S. ties cordial, says Adefuye

NIGERIA'S Ambassador to the United States (U.S.), Prof. Ade Adefuye has refuted a report in The Guardian of Sunday, December 21, 2014 entitled, 'Why we stopped buying Nigeria's oil by White House,' expressing his disagreement with what he called "some of the assumptions, projections and conclusions" in the publication. 

Adefuye said: "On the issue of U.S. purchase of Nigeria's oil, the explanation by the U.S. Director of National Economic Council, Mr. Jeff Zients is correct.  The increase in America's domestic oil production by 50 per cent naturally reduced the need for America to buy oil from abroad.  America is now much less dependent on oil import.  But the quantity of oil production is subject to fluctuation.      Whenever the quantity of internal oil production in the U.S. necessitates the need to import, Nigeria's oil because of its quality will be top of U.S. priority.  This much the Embassy had been assured.

"America continues to cooperate with Nigeria on a range of issues: Economic, political and military. The latest round of discussions on co-operation in the struggle against Boko Haram was a subtle disagreement among friends on the details of the implementation of the programme of military co-operation.  Discussions have since taken place at a very high level to resolve whatever differences that existed.  America continues to re-state its commitment to help Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.  

"It is therefore not correct to state that America's non-purchase of our oil and the discussion on the supply of weapons indicates America's dissatisfaction with the Nigerian military or its leadership.  It is important to stress this because of its possible implication on the current internal political scene.  The American government is aware of the rate of progress that has been made in the Transformation Agenda especially in the areas of power, agriculture, infrastructure to mention but a few.  Washington continues to indicate its preparedness to continue to support the Transformation Agenda of the present government because it realises that it is one sure way to attain peace, progress and stability in a country that is of strategic importance as Nigeria.  The tie and bond between Nigeria and U.S. are too strong for Boko Haram to weaken or destroy.".  

He added:  "It is standard practice for countries of the size, important and gravitas of Nigeria to occasionally employ consultants in some countries to work with the embassies in sending a message to some stakeholders in some selected countries for a short period. But while doing this, the government continues to fulfill its financial obligations to the Missions. As of now, all the diplomatic and non-diplomatic staff of Nigerian Embassy in Washington have been paid their December salaries. Our salaries are not backlogged and we are not complaining."

Guardian