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The President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump has urged the Muhammadu Buhari led government to tackle the incessant killings of Christians in the country by so called ‘Fulani Herdsmen’.
The US president made this statement at a joint press conference with the 75 year-old Nigerian president at the white house on Monday.
“We’ve had very serious problems with Christians who have been murdered, killed in Nigeria. We’re going to be working on that problem, because we can’t allow that to happen,” Trump said during the meeting.
“This includes the burning of churches and burning down of institutions. We are set to strengthen ties to curtail that and enhance peace.”
Trump said the U.S is fighting against the Islamic State, jihadist and human traffickers.
“We are also helping Nigerians in providing training facilities and military equipment that will help them to protect their citizenry,” the US president added.
Trump added that the U.S. “deeply values and appreciates Nigeria’s role as a strong democratic leader in the region.”
He said the nation is seeking to expand trade and commercial ties with African nations including Nigeria “to create jobs, wealth and employment.”
“Nigeria is one of our biggest trade partners in the Africa region and we are looking forward to growing more trade relationship based on fairness and reciprocity,” Trump said.
“We give Nigeria $1 Billion in aid every year and we have already started talking with the president in taking down the trade barriers, very substantial trade barrier with the united states trade with Nigeria, as these measures will make it easy for both Nigeria and the United States’ companies to invest. And we will be investing substantially in Nigeria if only they can provide the global play field that we’ll ask for.”
Trump said the U.S. seeks to create a “level playing field” in trade.
Days before Buhari’s visit, 19 Christians were killed after a gunman opened fire in a church in a remote region of the country.
The clashes are largely between Muslim herdsman and Christian farmers in the region.
The U.S President disputed that pulling out of the Iran deal would send the wrong message to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as the U.S prepares to have talks with the North Korean leader.
He said if anything it’s proven he’s been “100 percent right.”
Trump further commented on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s press conference on the Iran deal, saying the reports that Iran has moved nuclear weapons program to a secret location is “not an acceptable situation.”
“I’ve been saying that’s happening, they’re not sitting back idly, they’re setting off missiles which they say are for television purposes, I don’t think so,” said Trump.
He added that he would make a final decision on his stance on the Iran nuclear deal “on or before the 12th” of May.
Buhari said that Trump “deserves great deal of credit” for his “statesman” role in the steps being taken towards denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula. He extended his congratulations to leaders in the region for reaching a pact to take steps toward peace.
Trump said he was moved by inspiring stories of courage and resilience of two rescued Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram he met personally.
Buhari sidestepped questions on Trump’s reported vulgar comments about Africa.
“I’m very careful with what the press says about people other than myself, I’m not sure about the validity or whether that allegation against the president was true or not, the best thing for me is to keep quiet,” said President Buhari when asked if the president’s reported use of vulgar language in describing immigrants from Africa came up during their meetings on Monday.
“We didn’t discuss it. You do have some countries that are in very bad shape. We didn’t discuss it because the president knows me and knows where I’m coming from,” Trump responded.
MICEAL ANI, DIPO OLADEHINDE, ENDURANCE OKAFOR & BUNMI BAILEY
