Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday received Commander of the US-Africa Command, General Thomas D. Waldhauser and the American Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington.
Speaking with the duo in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Osinbajo said there was the need to deepen the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and the United States of America based on mutual trust.
“We will be very open and willing to build a relationship based on trust, so that we would benefit from it and of course our relationship as nations would benefit tremendously from it,” he said.
The Acting President said Nigeria’s relationship with the US was important, stressing that the federal government appreciates America’s support, especially over the last few years.
He said the present administration believes that the United States is committed to helping Nigeria to address its challenges, especially in the north-eastern part of the country.
While applauding the support of the US so far, Osinbajo said Nigeria would welcome more US military cooperation and assistance in dealing with the consequent humanitarian situation in the north-east.
He said issues concerning human rights in the country should be viewed against the context of an unusual kind of warfare with terrorists and insurgents.
In his remarks, head of US Africa Command, General Thomas D. Waldhauser, expressed readiness of the US government to accelerate its contributions, saying there is a sense that “we want to get on and solve the problem.”
