US Government Raises Alarm Over Starvation In The North East

The United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle on Thursday expressed strong reservations about the humanitarian crisis in the North-east triggered by the ongoing war against Boko Haram, saying that Nigerians are dying of starvation in their country, and called for urgent action from all stakeholders.

Entwistle, who spoke in Lagos at the celebration of the 240th anniversary of the US independence, declared: “Nigerians are dying of starvation in Nigeria. How can that be?

The Ambassador said: “As you fight Boko Haram and secure and rebuild the Northeast, and as you strive for harmony in the Niger Delta and across the land, we will continue to help in every appropriate way. Indeed, let us all redouble our efforts on the humanitarian front in the Northeast.”

The US ambassador prom- ised that his government would continue to provide support for Nigeria’s war against corrup- tion: “As you fight corruption, we offer technical assistance, training for investigators and prosecutors, and a commitment to ensure that no stolen funds are laundered through our banking system.

“As you improve the busi- ness climate, we encourage ex- panded trade and investment. As you continue privatisation of your power grid, through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, we stand ready to, among other things, help companies invest in building more electricity infrastructure, especially environmentally- friendly power generation. As you increase your commitment to healthcare and education, we support those efforts too.”

Entwistle, who described Nigeria as a great nation, said his country had maintained a robust engagement in Nigeria for many years and that the partnership runs deep.