US Vice President Kamala Harris Throws Weight Behind Tinubu And Subsidy Removal 

The chat between Harris and President Tinubu took place on Thursday, July 27, 2023, and it remains the greatest degree of engagement between the US government and the Nigerian President since his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

The US Vice President spoke with Tinubu about a variety of issues, including the two countries’ shared commitment to protecting democracy in West Africa and the Sahel.

The two also raised serious concerns about the recent events in Niger Republic, where the military announced a coup against the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

Harris condemned the move and emphasised that US cooperation with the Niger government is reliant on the country’s sustained adherence to democratic values.

Harris also praised Tinubu’s attempts to overhaul the Nigerian economy, especially his decision to eliminate gasoline subsidies and his efforts to harmonise foreign currency exchange rates.

“The Vice President expressed support for President Tinubu’s steps to reform Nigeria’s economy, including ending the fuel subsidy and unifying foreign currency exchange rates,” according to the statement.

Harris and Tinubu also discussed how Nigeria and the United States’ public and private sectors might collaborate to promote private sector investment in digital inclusion, women’s empowerment, and expanding access to sustainable energy.

She also emphasised the US government’s long-standing support for Nigeria’s democracy and good governance, while highlighting that security forces must act in the best interests of the people they are tasked with protecting.

“Building on the investments announced during the Vice President’s trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia earlier this year—including more than $8 billion in private sector commitments and $1 billion in U.S. government commitments—the Vice President and President Tinubu discussed how U.S. and Nigerian public and private sectors can work together to increase private sector investment, digital inclusion, women’s empowerment, and expand access to clean energy.

“The Vice President underscored the U.S. government’s long-standing support for Nigeria’s democracy and good governance, including governments’ responsibility to ensure that security services act to serve the people they are mandated to protect. The Vice President highlighted the deep ties between the United States and Nigeria, including people-to-people connections and the Diaspora,” the readout concluded.