The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, has advised Nigeria to get rid of petrol subsidy, educate and empower the girl-child, provide electricity for her citizenry and bridge the gap between leaders and citizens.
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Symington, who spoke on Tuesday night during an event to commemorate America’s 243rd Independence Day anniversary in Lagos, stated that subsidy costs every Nigerian “more than they worth”.
According to the envoy, Nigeria as a country is a big idea that is truly shared by the United States, adding that the country does not need anybody to tell her what to do in fixing its challenges.
He said: “You (Nigerians) don’t need anybody to tell you what to do. It is very simple. Number one, don’t look to government and get rid of gasoline subsidies. They cost every Nigerian citizen more than they worth.
“Number two, educate and empower every girl and every woman so that Nigeria sees her future with two eyes and can grab it with two arms and not one.
Number three, give power to the people. Put an electricity meter in every home and pay for what you get and tell the companies that you’re paying for what they deliver.
“But Nigeria knows all that and one other thing, that tonight and every other night, that every Nigerian is both a citizen and a subject. In Nigeria, there is one government, but there are hundreds of servants.
“A great asset of Nigeria is for all those who lead and all the subjects they represent, to come together to make this nation one nation bound in freedom with peace and unity and in this process, you can count on the U.S. for we believe in your ideas and we profoundly believe in you. We also believe that the world will be better if it begins with Nigeria.”
While stating that he was addressing an Independence Anniversary Day for the last time as US Ambassador to Nigeria because a female envoy has been nominated to replace him, Symington said the United States always practice what it preaches when it comes to women.
The outgoing Ambassador noted that: “Nigeria is not just a country, Nigeria is not just a nation, Nigeria was not just drawn on a map to bound first as a colony and later as free women and men. This country, Nigeria, is an idea, an idea very familiar to every American.
“It is an idea that people who speak 497 different languages, that is twice as many languages that are spoken on any given day in the United Nations, 497 different tongues coming together, Nigeria is the idea.
“Not that one people with one language, or one people with one faith, or one people of one colour or who come from one place, but that all people of all languages can truly be bound in freedom and the sum of those parts can be much more than any one member could ever be.
“This, by the way, for 243 years, it has been the dream of the United States to take people separated and divided into colonies with different rulers and bring them together as a nation with one governor under God. The Nigerian idea is an idea that is absolutely truly shared by the U.S.,” he said.
In his brief address, the US Consul General, John Bray, who read the remarks of President Donald Trump, said the United States has high regards for sacrifices made by her heroes.
“Together, we honoured the noble sacrifice by pledging our love and loyalty to our country, our flag and our fellow citizens. We are and we will always be one people, one family in one glorious nation of God,” Bray said.
Delivering the remarks of the Nigerian government, Director, American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Obioma Nzewuji, said the United States has demonstrated to be a trusted and reliable friend of Nigeria.
He said: “Today, as we join the United States in commemorating her independence anniversary, we celebrate the very essence of American progress, the spirit that defines the unity of its people for more than two centuries.
“We express profound appreciation to the United States government for the various forms of assistance given to Nigeria over the years, especially more recently in our fight against insurgency in the North-East.
“The humanitarian aids provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is a demonstration of goodwill and cordiality existing between our two countries.”
The event, which was graced by eminent Nigerians, including the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu; former governors Donald Duke (Cross River), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), among others, also witnessed a colourful presentation from the US Marine.
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