Howard F. Jeter, U.S. Ambassador Visits Nasarawa State
United
States Ambassador to Nigeria, Howard Franklin Jeter has commenced a two-day
visit to Nasarawa State. Ambassador Jeter who arrived Lafia in the evening
of Friday, February 15, 2002 immediately paid a courtesy call on Governor
Abdullahi Adamu at the Government House Complex.
Receiving Ambassador Jeter in his office, Governor Adamu stated that the
government and people of Nasarawa state were highly privileged to host him
in their state and described the United States as the custodian of democracy
and leader of the free world. Governor Adamu said that the United States
shared a lot of common values with Nigeria as they both shared a vision for
the establishment of democracy and good governance around the world. He
informed the Ambassador that Nigeria would do everything to establish itself
as the biggest democratic country in Africa.
Recalling
Nigeria’s rough ride to democracy, Governor Adamu said that democracy has
brought liberty and freedom to the people of Nigeria. He said Nigerians now
had an opportunity to hold opinions that may not necessarily be acceptable
by Government.
In the area of bilateral relations, Governor Adamu informed the
Ambassador that Nasarawa state was in consort with a Houston, Texas company
for the establishment of a meat processing company and a solar water and
electricity company from New Jersey for the development of those
technologies in Nasarawa state. Additionally, Governor Adamu said a
Memorandum of Understanding had since been signed with the Washington based
Small Business Administration for the establishment of a Business
Information Center in Lafia. The will provide basic business information to
small-scale enterprises in the state. Governor Adamu also acknowledged the
help of the United States Agency for International Development for choosing
Nasarawa state to be one of three pioneer states to participate in the
literacy and numeracy project.
Governor
Adamu, who urged Ambassador Jeter to consider paying an official visit to
the state, said that there were opportunities for cooperation that existed
between the United States and the State of Nasarawa. Some of these areas
were in the development of democratic structures and institutions that will
sustain democracy in Nigeria; the training of Nasarawa congressional members
and staff to help develop the quality and content of legislation and
technical assistance for Non-Governmental Organizations.
Speaking earlier, Ambassador Jeter said he has been a great admirer of
Governor Adamu since he arrived Nigeria. He said his brief visit to Nasarawa
was to enable him acquaint himself with the priorities and challenges of
governance in Nasarawa state and ways in which the United States can assist
in developing the structures of democracy and economic relations.
Ambassador Jeter stated that Nigeria was the most powerful country in
Africa as well as being the number one trading partner of the United States
in Africa. Nigeria also attracted the largest US investment in Africa.
United States bi-lateral assistance to Nigeria was also the highest in
Africa and now exceeds $120 million. The Ambassador therefore requested the
state to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA)
where over 2000 goods were listed as priority areas of trade with the United
States.
In the delegation of the Ambassador were Mr. Tom Hopgood of USAID; Mr.
Bill Palmer; Ms Tiffany Parker and Alhaji Mukhtari Shitu, all of the
American Embassy. To welcome the Ambassador to the state in company of the
Governor were the Speaker of the Nasarawa Congress, The Chief Judge of the
state, all members of the State Executive Council, The Secretary to the
State Government, Head of Service and senior government officials.
Click here of more photos of the
visit