Indications emerged Thursday that the American government is prepared to supply drones to Nigeria as part of that country’s commitment to overcome security challenges in Nigeria.
This was revealed on Thursday by Mary Beth Leonard, the American ambassador to Nigeria, who spoke at a discussion with a group of journalists in this in Sokoto.
The ambassador said the drones would help Nigeria to stop the activities of bandits, kidnappers, and Boko Haram in the country.
Nigeria is currently going through its worst peace-time insecurity, fighting insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
Ms. Leonard noted that “insecurity has shortchanged the development of the country in many areas of human endeavor. America is concerned about the security situation of the country.”
She added that her country had been supporting Nigeria in the area of information gathering and hardware to combat insecurity through modern technologies and other relevant areas of concern.
She said that “USAID had from 2015 to date invested about one hundred and twenty-two million dollars on different activities that comprised improving primary healthcare, immunisations, public access to quality healthcare, education, agriculture, and empowerment programmes.
“USAID future interactions aimed at strengthening the commitments include improving agriculturalists’ capacity for farmers to engage on right agricultural practices for growth and enhanced food production.”
She added that the Safe Schools Initiative and other educational support was accorded with priority, stressing that the US government accorded respect and concern on the plights of Nigerians.
