The US Special Presidential Envoy and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Molly Phee, has told Nigerian President Bola Tinubu that he is the only African leader President Joe Biden has requested to meet at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
The US Envoy, who said this on Saturday during a visit to President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, noted that the US administration has high regard for the leadership of the Tinubu-led Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government.
President Tinubu during the meeting with the US Presidential Envoy said that though war is not ideal, the ECOWAS which he leads as the Chairman would not allow the Niger Republic military leaders to “insincerely” buy time in the current crisis.
Ambassador Phee, while pledging US support for the position of ECOWAS, extended an exclusive invitation from President Biden to meet Tinubu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City to advance discussions further in late September.
The US Special Envoy said, “We know there is more we can do to incentivize large-scale American investment in Nigeria and we are committed to working closely with you to achieve that, as part of efforts to strengthen the Nigerian economy and the regional economy.
“We appreciate your willingness to create an enabling environment for that. President Joe Biden is asking to meet with you on the sidelines of UNGA and you are the only African leader he has requested to meet. It is a mark of his high regard for your leadership.”
President Tinubu accepted the invitation to meet the U.S. President on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
