Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets virtually with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2021. [State Department photo by Ron Przysucha]
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari praised U.S. President Joe Biden for his reversal of the so-called Muslim ban, signed by former President Trump, that prohibited travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries (many African) from entering the United States. President Biden signed an executive order to reverse what’s been called the Muslim ban. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met virtually last Tuesday with Nigerian President Buhari who expressed his gratitude. At was a stunning reversal of the Trump-era travel ban many claimed was clearly discriminatory. President Trump once referred to African countries and Haiti as “shithole” nations during a meeting in January 2018 and asked why the U.S. can’t have more immigrants from Norway, that caused a global outrage.
“Nigeria attaches great importance to the relations with the United States. Let me in this connection express appreciation to President Joe Biden for his welcome and recent decision to appeal the immigration – to repeal the immigration restriction known as the Muslim ban on travel and visas for citizens predominantly from Muslim nations and African countries, including Nigeria.”
-Nigerian President Buhari
U.S. Biden Administration Position on Trump Muslim Ban:
“The United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution. Nevertheless, the previous administration enacted a number of Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States — first from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries. Those actions are a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.” – White House Statement, Jan. 20, 2021.
U.S. Seeks to Strengthen Relationship with Nigeria
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets virtually with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2021. [State Department photo by Ron Przysucha]
Secretary Blinken traveled virtually to Kenya and Nigeria on his first trip to Africa as Secretary of State.
Secretary Blinken met virtually with Nigerian President Buhari and Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama. They discussed the global economic recovery, Nigeria’s security challenges and regional security issues, the effort against COVID-19, and the effects of climate change in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, according to the State Department. The Secretary and the President reaffirmed the strong partnership between the United States and Nigeria, founded upon shared democratic ideals and a spirit of transparency and cooperation. Secretary Blinken emphasized the United States’ renewed commitment to multilateral institutions and noted the constructive leadership role Nigeria plays in global affairs.
“Your Excellency, Mr. President, our relations have been strong for 60 years, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with you and your team on building on that foundation and charting a shared vision to guide our strategic partnership for the coming years. I look forward to discussing our cooperation in responding to a challenge to all of humanity, COVID-19, as well as our sustained efforts to strengthen global health security, so we’re better prepared for the next disease outbreak. I also hope to discuss how we can build our economies back even better and stronger after the pandemic, growing them and making them more equitable. Investing and protecting the most vulnerable communities in our countries I think contributes to our goal of building a lasting security for Americans and for Nigerians.”
-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Nigeria President Speaks on Security Concerns in West Africa
“The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impact it more negatively by existing conflicts, negative pressures in the Sahel, Central Africa, and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad region. Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and our security forces remain resolutely committed to continue them and addressing their root causes. The support of important and strategic partners like United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations, hence the imperative for concern, cooperation, and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges. In this connection and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region, and the Sahel weighing heavily on Africa underscores the need for the United States to consider relocating AFRICOM headquarters from Stuttgart in Germany to Africa, and near the theater of operations.”
-Nigerian President Buhari
