Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Joe Biden have
agreed that Nigeria and the United States would work together to urgently
curtail the outbreak of Ebola virus.
Jonathan and Biden met in Washington D.C on Tuesday on the side-line of
the on- going US-Africa African leader’s summit, according to a `readout’
issued by the White House, Office of the Vice President.
Ebola virus has claimed two lives in Nigeria since a 40-year old Liberian
and American citizen Patrick Sawyer died of the disease in Lagos.
The identity of the second victim of the deadly virus has been withheld by
government but it is believed to be a medical worker who had contact with
Sawyer at the hospital in Lagos.
According to the World Health Organisation, over 800 persons have died
from the Ebola virus from the three main hit West African countries of
Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, the White House statement said Biden reiterated U.S.
partnership in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.
He was reported to have stressed the need to pursue holistic approaches
that respect and protect human rights
“The Vice President also underscored the importance of supporting
Nigeria’s effort to improve the socioeconomic and security conditions in
northern Nigeria,’’ the statement by the White House said.
Further, Biden was quoted to have welcomed Nigeria’s work to improve its
business climate, which continues to attract U.S. investors.
Both leaders were reported to have expressed their commitments to trade
and investment, and the critical role that access to electricity plays in
supporting that goal.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Barack Obama, on
June 30, launched Power Africa, an innovative private sector-led
initiative aimed at doubling electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa.
It is believed that no fewer than 600 million people currently lacked
access to electricity in the region.
Obama used the occasion of the summit to announce a renewed commitment to
this initiative and pledged a new level of $300 million in assistance per
year to expand the reach of Power Africa.
He also announced $6 billion in new private sector commitments, bringing
the total private sector commitments under Power Africa to date to more
than $20 billion
The U.S government has set an ambitious aggregate goal of 30,000 MW of
additional capacity to Africa and increasing electricity access by at
least 60 million households and business connections. (NAN)
