Blinken in Nigeria, highlights progress in US-Africa relations

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, highlighted the progress of the United States’ relationship with the continent as he landed in Nigeria in continuation of his African tour.

The tour had taken Blinken to Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire and now Nigeria en route Angola from January 21 to 26.

The Secretary of State arrived at the Presidential Villa for an official visit to President Bola Tinubu. He was accompanied by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; the Minister of Information, Mohammed Yusuf, and other top government officials.

A statement spokesperson of the US Department of State, Matthew Miller, said: “Throughout the trip, the secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security.”

Miller said the visit is aimed at highlighting the progression of the United States’ relationship with the continent after the US–Africa leaders summit in 2022.

“He will also emphasize our future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace,” he said.

According to Miller, the visit is also expected to foster the U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges and de-escalate tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

During his visit to Ivory Coast, the football-loving, French-speaking top US diplomat watched a critical match Monday night in Abidjan between the hosts and Equatorial Guinea, joining Ivory Coast’s political top brass in a VIP box.