Howard F. Jeter, U.S. Ambassador Visits Nasarawa State

United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Howard Franklin Jeter has commenced a two-day visit to Nasarawa State. Ambassador Jeter who arrived Lafia in the evening of Friday, February 15, 2002 immediately paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdullahi Adamu at the Government House Complex.

Receiving Ambassador Jeter in his office, Governor Adamu stated that the government and people of Nasarawa state were highly privileged to host him in their state and described the United States as the custodian of democracy and leader of the free world. Governor Adamu said that the United States shared a lot of common values with Nigeria as they both shared a vision for the establishment of democracy and good governance around the world. He informed the Ambassador that Nigeria would do everything to establish itself as the biggest democratic country in Africa.

Recalling Nigeria’s rough ride to democracy, Governor Adamu said that democracy has brought liberty and freedom to the people of Nigeria. He said Nigerians now had an opportunity to hold opinions that may not necessarily be acceptable by Government.

In the area of bilateral relations, Governor Adamu informed the Ambassador that Nasarawa state was in consort with a Houston, Texas company for the establishment of a meat processing company and a solar water and electricity company from New Jersey for the development of those technologies in Nasarawa state. Additionally, Governor Adamu said a Memorandum of Understanding had since been signed with the Washington based Small Business Administration for the establishment of a Business Information Center in Lafia. The will provide basic business information to small-scale enterprises in the state. Governor Adamu also acknowledged the help of the United States Agency for International Development for choosing Nasarawa state to be one of three pioneer states to participate in the literacy and numeracy project.

Governor Adamu, who urged Ambassador Jeter to consider paying an official visit to the state, said that there were opportunities for cooperation that existed between the United States and the State of Nasarawa. Some of these areas were in the development of democratic structures and institutions that will sustain democracy in Nigeria; the training of Nasarawa congressional members and staff to help develop the quality and content of legislation and technical assistance for Non-Governmental Organizations.

Speaking earlier, Ambassador Jeter said he has been a great admirer of Governor Adamu since he arrived Nigeria. He said his brief visit to Nasarawa was to enable him acquaint himself with the priorities and challenges of governance in Nasarawa state and ways in which the United States can assist in developing the structures of democracy and economic relations.

Ambassador Jeter stated that Nigeria was the most powerful country in Africa as well as being the number one trading partner of the United States in Africa. Nigeria also attracted the largest US investment in Africa. United States bi-lateral assistance to Nigeria was also the highest in Africa and now exceeds $120 million. The Ambassador therefore requested the state to take advantage of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) where over 2000 goods were listed as priority areas of trade with the United States.

In the delegation of the Ambassador were Mr. Tom Hopgood of USAID; Mr. Bill Palmer; Ms Tiffany Parker and Alhaji Mukhtari Shitu, all of the American Embassy. To welcome the Ambassador to the state in company of the Governor were the Speaker of the Nasarawa Congress, The Chief Judge of the state, all members of the State Executive Council, The Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service and senior government officials.