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An eight-member Congressional delegation from the United States arrived Nigeria yesterday on a four-day visit aimed at gaining a picture of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The delegation is led by Senator Christopher Coons (D-Delaware) who is a member of the Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Ethics committees.
Among the issues of particular interest to the U.S. officials will be the fight against Boko Haram and the humanitarian situation in the northeast of Nigeria,according to a statement from the U.S Embassy in Nigeria.
While in Abuja, the U.S. legislators will meet with “high-ranking leaders to gain a fulsome picture of the bilateral relationship.”
They will be briefed by the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington and staff before meeting with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President,Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,Yakubu Dogara as well as other members of the National Assembly, and religious and civil society leaders,it added.
Also included in the delegation are Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan); Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado); Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware) and Representative Terri Sewell (D-Alabama).
Others are Representative Charlie Dent (R-Pennsylvania); Representative Barbara Lee (D-California) and Representative Frederica Wilson (D-Florida).
The law makers are visiting Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia in addition to Nigeria during their West Africa tour.
Before departing Nigeria,they will also visit Lagos, where trade and investment relations will be the theme.
They will meet with Nigerian business executives, tour the Egbin Thermal Power Plant, participate in an American Business Council roundtable, and conclude with a reception featuring alumni of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)and the Tony Elemelu Foundation (TEF).
