The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, has debunked the notion that his government is undermining Nigeria's efforts to end the insurgency in the North-east, adding that the war had more political undertones than a religious underpinning.
The US Ambassador made the statement while addressing journalists at a press conference convened at the American University of Nigerian (AUN) in Yola, adding that human rights abuses by Nigerian soldiers in the past had played a role in determining the sale of arms to Nigeria.
THISDAY had exclusively reported last month that Nigeria's efforts to procure military equipment, especially Cobra helicopters (erroneously reported as Chinook helicopters) from Israel, had been blocked by the US on the grounds of human rights abuses by the Nigerian military.
The US ambassador further observed that both major religions - Christianity and Islam - had suffered colossal losses since the Boko Haram insurgency started.
He said Boko Haram insurgents had grown from just a small group with arms to segmented groups that have full military training and equipment.
He said the US government was heavily involved in supporting the Nigerian government's response to the Boko Haram menace. "I disagree completely with these headlines; they are quite inadequate. Our two countries have strong military relationship.
"Over the years, we share a lot of equipment; some of the newest vessels of your navy come from United States, so the idea that US doesn't support Nigeria is not true," the envoy said.
He said the support to Nigeria was in many forms, including training of soldiers and information sharing. On his perception of Boko Haram, the ambassador said he was not sure of the group's objectives. "There are still some open questions on who they are, what they want.
"A year ago, I would have said they were religiously motivated. But as they killed more and more Muslims, it's hard for me to believe that they were motivated by religion.
"Who are these guys and what do they want? I don't think we really understand them, " Entwistle said. He observed that Boko Haram had gone beyond being a small insurgent group, with a couple of guns, to a very effective collection of conventional force.
"An open question we have to look at carefully is where is the military expertise (for Boko Haram) coming from? How in the last one year have they become more effective?" He asked.
He said the American government would only sell or give out arms when she is sure of the purpose it is meant for, adding that Nigeria is America's biggest interest in Africa.
Lending some insight into Nigeria's attempt to procure arms to counter the insurgency, Entwistle explained that cases of human rights abuses by Nigerian troops in the North-east in the past years have stood out as a sore thumb whenever the US considers the Nigerian military's request for arms.
"Before we share equipment with any country, whether it is a government-to-government grant or a commercial sale that requires government approval, we look at a couple of things," the ambassador explained.
"Does it make sense in terms of that country's needs? The second thing we look at is the human rights situation in that country. And as we look at equipment transfers, we look at the situation in those countries in the past few years.
"As you all know, there have been instances, I'm not saying across the board, of human rights abuses by the Nigerian military in the North-east.
"So the kind of question that we have to ask is let's say we give certain kinds of equipment to the Nigerian military that is then used in a way that affects the human situation. If I approve that, I'm responsible for that. We take that responsibility very seriously," he said. Entwistle, however, expressed confidence that Nigeria can overcome the current challenges facing the nation if a genuine democratic process is allowed to thrive.
"A genuine change through democratic process is the most precious and powerful tool to bring the desired change in a nation like Nigeria," he said.
The ambassador also said the only way to fight corruption is to establish effective institutions to fight it and when the average man in the street begins to stand up against it.
He also said through media campaigns, civil society groups and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the US government was going out to lunch campaigns to sensitise the people on the dangers of corruption, adding that his country also suffered corruption in the past and since the US started the fight against corruption, it was still fighting it.
He also commended the Nigeria government for rising up to fight the deadly Ebola virus, calling on other countries to emulate the actions taken by Nigeria.
The envoy, who was in Adamawa to monitor the suspended October 11 governorship by-election, held talks with the Adamawa Interfaith Committee, an NGO.
He also visited AUN where he delivered a lecture to the staff and students of the institution.
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