Our Interest in N’Delta, By US
•Nigeria/America business partnership tops agenda
By Paul Ohia and Agha Ibiam, 06.12.2008
The United States Amba-ssador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Renee Sanders, has said the preoccupation of her country in the Niger Delta region is to offer humanitarian intervention, education and promotion of dialogue as a way of affecting the oil-producing communities positively.
She ruled out any military intervention despite her country's perceived military and technological capability to fish out the militants and protect US economic interest in the region.
Sanders acknowledged Nig-eria's ability to understand that the agitation of the people on political and environmental issues are genuine, but said the US would only come in to be of assistance in the humanitarian efforts.
The ambassador was speaking during a courtesy visit to THISDAY corporate headquarters in Lagos, yesterday, the first to any Nigerian media house since she assumed office last year.
She said the issue of oil price jumping up after every attack in the area affects everybody in the world and not only the US.
"There is a legitimate concern in the Niger Delta both politically and economically. The political dialogue has to be spearheaded by Nigeria," she said, adding that her country has in place conflict resolution, entrepreneurial, education and sundry programmes to complement the efforts of the Nigerian government.
She said she has visited to the region to see things for herself and know the recurring issues at stake which, according to her, go beyond humanitarian needs but extend to development issues.
On the relationship between US private sector and its Nigerian counterpart, the envoy said: "The government is working to create a bilateral framework that needs to be there for a stronger business relationship. We're working with the Nigerian government on a bilateral investment treaty. We have businesses in Nigeria but ironically we don't have a bilateral investment treaty."
She noted that American businesses in Nigeria are not as big as they should be, but her mission was working hard to improve private sector partnership.
She said that this gives meaning to the ongoing seminars being organised by the embassy at different place in Nigeria. The seminar held in Abuja is focused on power sector and financing opportunities that are inherent therein.
"Tomorrow (today) there will be another two-day seminar in Lagos that will focus on other sectors as well. We have agriculture, trade, and economic development," she said.
On agriculture, Sanders noted that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has made it part of his seven-point agenda and said the embassy, with USAID, is working in several areas to improve yield, research, food production and how to get entrepreneurial expertise in this area.
On the complaint of Nigerians about consular services, Sanders said people need to understand that the services follow the process of rule of law.
Her words: " The visa and immigration process is the rule of law process and I think people have to recognise that but what I have tasked myself is that people have to be treated politely when they come, even if one has to be turned down for the visa".
She said there is and improvement on how people are being treated and said that she wants that to continue.
She wants visa seekers to respect the online, rule of law and transparency process but added that 70 per cent of those who apply get visas.
