AfDB: US Secretary of State phones Nigeria’s FM, Geoffrey Onyeama
The United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, on Tuesday, 16 June, 2020 reached out to Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to deliberate on the impact of African Development Bank and multilateral initiatives in speeding up economic growth and regional security.
The duo also discussed Nigeria’s progress in combating COVID-19 and the $30 million US aid which has accelerated growth of the nation’s public health and humanitarian services.
President of the AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, had been is currently in the battle of the survival-of-the- fittest over allegations of financial management brought against him by some some internal forces.
The bank’s Ethics’ Committee has freed him of the purported financial impropriety allegation, but the United States was averse to the report and demanded a fresh investigation.
Akinwunmi is banking on the support of president Muhammadu Buhari and other major African countries to seek re-election as president of AFDB.
A statement by the Office of the US Department of State Spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, said Pompeo and Onyeama agreed that transparency and accountability would drive democratic and inclusive development.
It read, “Secretary Pompeo expressed condolences for the loss of life in recent ISIS West Africa attacks in the northeast, and the two discussed Nigeria’s ongoing civilian protection and counter-terrorism efforts.
“Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Onyeama reviewed Nigeria’s progress in fighting COVID-19 and the $30 million in recent U.S. assistance that has helped to strengthen Nigeria’s public health and humanitarian response.”
“They also discussed the African Development Bank and the constructive role of multilateral initiatives in accelerating economic recovery and regional security, and they agreed that transparency and accountability will drive democratic and inclusive development,” the statement added.
