Tag: USA

U.S.A Provides Additional $30 Million Humanitarian Funding for Northeast Nigeria

The United States of America (USA) has announced provision of an additional $30 million to support the people of northeast Nigeria, destabilised by humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram and other militant groups. This additional funding brings the total U.S. humanitarian contribution in Nigeria to more than $298 million since October 2015.

This new funding will support the UN World Food Program in Nigeria, which is providing critical food assistance, nutrition support, and vouchers that can be used to buy food where local markets are functional. This assistance is also helping communities return to their agricultural livelihoods where security allows.

Humanitarian efforts are vital in northeast Nigeria, where approximately 8.5 million people require assistance, including 5.2 million people who need emergency food assistance, and more than 1.7 million people who are displaced.

Since October 2015, the United States has been the largest donor for the humanitarian response in the Lake Chad Basin region, providing more than $452 million for people affected by the ongoing crisis. The U.S. expresses its commitment to working with the Government of Nigeria and other donors to provide humanitarian assistance to avert famine and support vulnerable communities.

USA & Enugu State Explore Trading Opportunities and Expansion

The Foreign Commercial Service of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria concluded a four-day outreach (April 4-7) to Enugu State that focused on expanding commercial ties between the U.S. and Nigeria, especially the South Eastern geo-political zone.

During the outreach, a team of trade and commercial specialists from the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, led by Commercial Counselor Brent Omdahl, held meetings with Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, state commissioners, and other senior Cabinet-level officials on trade opportunities which will contribute to mutual prosperity and job growth for both countries.

Governor Ugwuanyi and Commercial Counselor Omdahl discussed U.S. investments in Enugu State, including the on-going $700 million Motir DuSable solar plant project in the Nachi community of Udi local government area. At full capacity, the solar plant will add 300 Megawatts to the national grid.

While in Enugu State, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service participated in the 28th Enugu International Trade fair. The Foreign Commercial Service also hosted leading regional business owners at a workshop entitled: “Networking with the USA Business Summit and Conference – Enugu 2017”.

The Foreign Commercial Service of the U.S. government works to promote the expansion of U.S. trade and investment to Nigeria through support of business partnerships between American and Nigerian companies.

Kadinvest 2.0: USA & Kaduna State Sign MoU on Economic Growth

The U.S. government, through the Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced at the Kadinvest 2.0, its continuing support to the economic sector in Kaduna State with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the USAID Acting Mission Director Julie A. Koenen and His Excellency the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.

Kadinvest 2.0

The ceremony took place on April 5 at Kadinvest 2.0, Kaduna’s annual conference on economic development.  The Kaduna State government used the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to achieving sustainable economic growth by creating mechanisms to make it easier to do business, and aligning its budget to capital expenditure in order to build both human capital and infrastructure.

This three-year MOU outlines the shared and individual commitments to help drive economic development collaboration between USAID/Nigeria and the Kaduna State Government. These include:

  • Strengthening the agriculture sector through increased agricultural productivity of selected value chains, expanded market participation, increased access to finance and an improved business enabling environment
  • Developing the capability of Kaduna State Government to manage water and sanitation resources
  • Increasing access to and availability of power in Kaduna State

USAID currently supports activities aimed at agricultural productivity, trade efficiency, innovation, power sector growth — including renewable energy and increased energy access for residential and institutional consumers, as well as improved management of water and sanitation services. This MOU will strengthen and deepen activities that are expected to come on-line over the next five years helping to reach a multitude of economic growth objectives in Kaduna State.