The federal government had three weeks ago terminated a contract it gave to military trainers from the United States. These trainings were to ensure that a battalion of the Nigerian Army was trained on how to combat insurgency in Nigeria. Well, the US has also stopped buying Nigeria’s oil. Accusations and counter accusations have been widely reported from both governments in its aftermath. Monitors predict that this could lead to a diplomatic rows between both nations, predictions both countries have dispelled.
LEADERSHIP investigation shows that both Nigeria and the United States may be treading a path that could lead to a serious diplomatic row between both nations if concrete steps to douse the tension coming from the termination of the contract are not taken. The US government have accused Nigerian security agencies of human rights violations in their operations, especially in the fight to contain the insurgency.
It is believed that the termination pained the US because the trainings which were cancelled by the federal government were aimed at getting enough knowledge and strategies to confront the Boko Haram Sect, a terrorist organization which has claimed responsibility for most of the deadly attacks in the Northern parts of Nigeria.
While the federal government has continued to maintain that the termination of the contract was because of the inability of the United States to provide the necessary weapons and supports that were required to fight insurgency in the Northeast, the American government, on its own, claims that all the blames should be put on the Nigerian government.
The American government, while defending all the accusations being made by the federal government through the Press Attache of the US Embassy in Abuja, Sean J. McIntosh, described the allegations as baseless, adding that the third phase of training did not occur because the Nigerian Army failed to provide the necessary equipment required by the US trainers for the training.
Part of LEADERSHIP investigation also indicates that further delay in resolving the difference would lead to a serious diplomatic crisis between both the governments of Nigeria and the United States, and this may jeopardize the relationship that both nations had enjoyed since 2010.
Also, accusations from the federal government that the United States government had failed to provide enough supports to be able to curb Boko Haram in the Northeast could make the Obama-led administration withdraw all its supports for the Regional Security aspect of the Bi-National agreement between both countries.
It has been learnt that the accusation could cost Nigeria the entire Bi-National agreement it has with the United States, which includes security in the Nigeria Delta, credible elections, fight against corruption and terrorism, ensuring good governance among others.
Although, there are indications that the US might be asked by the federal government to withdraw its intelligence staff who were brought into the country to help rescue the kidnapped Chibok students from Nigeria, the US embassy spokesman, Sean J. McIntosh, said in a press statement that his country had not received any directive from Nigeria to do so.
Speaking further in the statement, the US Embassy’s Spokesperson was quoted as saying: “The US continues to support Nigerian efforts to bring about the safe recovery of those kidnapped and to advise the Nigerian government on its response. Staffing of the US government interdisciplinary team in Nigerian remains steady since the initial surge following the kidnapping”
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye insist that ties between the countries remain cordial. He defended the US decision to stop buying Nigeria’s oil. America continues to cooperate with Nigeria on a range of issues: Economic, political and military, the Ambassador said in a December 23 report.
Adefuye said: “On the issue of U.S. purchase of Nigeria’s oil, the explanation by the U.S. Director of National Economic Council, Mr. Jeff Zients is correct. The increase in America’s domestic oil production by 50 per cent naturally reduced the need for America to buy oil from abroad. America is now much less dependent on oil import. But the quantity of oil production is subject to fluctuation. Whenever the quantity of internal oil production in the U.S. necessitates the need to import, Nigeria’s oil because of its quality will be top of U.S. priority. This much the Embassy had been assured.
“America continues to cooperate with Nigeria on a range of issues: Economic, political and military. The latest round of discussions on co-operation in the struggle against Boko Haram was a subtle disagreement among friends on the details of the implementation of the programme of military co-operation. Discussions have since taken place at a very high level to resolve whatever differences that existed. America continues to re-state its commitment to help Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.
“It is therefore not correct to state that America’s non-purchase of our oil and the discussion on the supply of weapons indicates America’s dissatisfaction with the Nigerian military or its leadership. It is important to stress this because of its possible implication on the current internal political scene. The American government is aware of the rate of progress that has been made in the Transformation Agenda especially in the areas of power, agriculture, infrastructure to mention but a few. Washington continues to indicate its preparedness to continue to support the Transformation Agenda of the present government because it realises that it is one sure way to attain peace, progress and stability in a country that is of strategic importance as Nigeria. The tie and bond between Nigeria and U.S. are too strong for Boko Haram to weaken or destroy.”.
LEADERSHIP checks have however shows that the decision of the Nigerian government to terminate the trainings was basically because of the refusal of the US government to sell some military helicopters to Nigeria, even though the coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, had recently said the training was cancelled due to some logistical components needed for the training which the US failed to provide.
Omeri added that the United States instead of providing the required equipment had relied on Nigerian military equipment which is currently in use in the troubled states in the north east.
Also, a senior US Defence source told our correspondent that Nigeria believed that the United States government’s decision not to sell the helicopters was all to frustrate its efforts to combat the Boko Haram Sect. He added that it was generally believed that these helicopters were needed for the war against terrorism in Nigeria.
Asked if the termination could prompt the US to withdraw the supports being given to Nigeria in order to effectively sustain regional security, fight terrorism and bring back the kidnapped Chibok students, the official said: “I do not want to preempt the reactions of our government but we will certainly come up with a decision. The US will surely reduce its attention on Nigeria but not totally”.
http://leadership.ng/news/398172/insecurity-nigeria-us-face-off-whose-interest
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