Deputy Assistant Secretary William Fitzgerald’s As Delivered Remarks In U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission Opening Session Monday, January 23, 9 A.M.

L-R: DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY WILLIAM FITZGERALD AND PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AMBASSADOR UHOMOIBHI AT THE U.S.-NIGERIA BINATIONAL COMMISSION OPENING SESSION IN ABUJA ON MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012. PHOTO CREDIT: SANI MOHAMMED.

The Honorable Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Uhomoibhi
 
The Honorable Security Adviser to the President of Nigeria, General Azazi
 
My Dear Friend from Washington, His Excellency, the Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Adefuye
 
And other distinguished members of the Nigerian delegation.
 
(All protocols observed.)
            
First off, let me begin by saying I bring on behalf of my government as well as my delegation the deepest condolences on the heinous attack that has taken place in the past days first in Kano and then in Bauchi state. We deplore deeply the reign of terror that has existed in the north of this country for many months. And we stand with you to work together to find a way to bring peace to the north.
           
Let me begin by remarking on where we are with the Binational Commission. We want to express our sincere thanks to our Nigerian hosts for this discussion today. This is the formal opening of a new round of U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission talks – the “BNC.” 
 
We are very pleased with these ongoing strategic dialogues.  We regard the BNC as a successful platform for visibly and consistently advancing shared U.S. and Nigerian interests in democracy, development, and security.  Since Secretary of State Clinton and then-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Yayale Ahmed signed the framework in April 2010, all four of the working groups have convened:  Good Governance, Transparency, and Integrity; Energy and Investment; Niger Delta and Regional Security Cooperation; and Agriculture and Food Security.
 
Today marks the recognition of these gains and also a new beginning.  Security issues in the north have taken on new significance so we have chosen to split the Regional Security Cooperation and the Niger Delta into its own working group.  The regional security cooperation will have its own working group which we will meet and discuss today and tomorrow.  Niger Delta issues, still ever pressing as well as maritime security, will meet later this year, hopefully later on in the spring.  We were very pleased with the frankness of the Niger Delta discussion in Washington in September of 2010 and are very eager to help advance economic development and environmental protection in that vital region.
 
Last year’s discussions on “Good Governance, Transparency, and Integrity” allowed U.S. officials to get direct input from civil society, the private sector, as well as state governors about the extensive election preparations needed for the April 2011 election.  We look forward to addressing good governance issues in the coming year, in particular increasing our joint commitment to build the capacity of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.
 
Our Energy and Investment Working Group actually convened twice during the first round of talks.  We are committed to assisting Nigeria’s important efforts to facilitate reform of the power generation and hydrocarbon sectors, including funding technical assistance for renewable energy initiatives.  We can report significant progress in Nigeria’s “road map” for rehabilitation of the power generation infrastructure.  We are eager to see a strong Petroleum Industry Bill pass in the National Assembly that improves transparency, oversight, and investment in the oil and gas sector.
           
My boss, (Assistant Secretary of African Affairs, sic) Johnnie Carson early next month will be leading a trade mission to four countries in Africa, including Nigeria with private investors to discuss investment, foreign direct investment in Nigeria's electrical distribution network as well as power generation.
 
Finally, we look forward to the next Food Security and Agriculture Working Group, which will convene in Washington.   With nearly 70 percent of Nigerians engaged in agriculture or related trade, stronger implementation of Nigeria’s agriculture policy and commitments under its National Agricultural Investment Plan can provide large and inclusive economic gains for the country.  The US overall recognizes the regional importance and role of Nigeria with respect to food security and has funded programs under our Feed the Future initiative.  This year’s meeting will focus on improving investment – by both U.S. companies and Nigerian farming cooperatives – that could help facilitate regional trade and dramatically improve livelihoods.
 
In order to assure that both our countries are achieving the objectives we set out to accomplish, I propose that for next year, we begin each working group session with an assessment of that working group's goals.  This will help focus our attention on our highest priorities and measure our progress so that these talks translate into concrete action.
 
Thank you very much.