Statement By GEJ Regarding Meeting With U.S. Secretary Of State John Kerry

It was a pleasure to welcome Secretary John Kerry to Nigeria. We had a candid and constructive discussion about a broad range of issues.

Nigeria is a vibrant democracy and
the largest trading partner of the
United States in Africa, with more
than $18 billion in bilateral trade.
Our countries and peoples share a
mutual admiration for each other and a deep commitment to freedom,
democracy, and human rights.

This is why we are together engaged in a struggle against a common enemy that promotes terror, fear, division, and violates human rights, most especially of women and girls, with complete impunity.

Winning the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria and West Africa is
absolutely essential to beat back the
tide of religious extremism around the world.

Our security forces have been working tirelessly and courageously to achieve this goal.

I reaffirmed for Secretary Kerry that
Nigeria is strongly committed to
building the multinational task force
to fight Boko Haram in partnership
with Cameroon, Chad, Niger and
Benin Republic under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

Indeed, I called publicly for such a
regional approach at the African
leaders summit in Paris in May 2014
and more recently in multilateral
meetings.

We are pleased that the international
community is now strongly united
behind this initiative and agree that its success is critical.

It is equally important that the
multinational force receives the
significant support that is required to address the threat through our global partners.

The United States, more than any
other country in the world, has the
most experience fighting armed
insurgencies.

And having suffered the devastating
attacks of 9/11, its people also
understand the insecurity and fear
that is the reality for the vast majority of peaceful, tolerant Muslims and Christians in North Eastern Nigeria.

This is why I firmly believe that
enhancing and expanding various
channels of cooperation between our two countries, in the context of
growing international coordination,
are of the utmost importance.

I discussed a number of ideas with
Secretary Kerry to move such
cooperation forward.

We are grateful to the United States for standing with Nigeria and its people in our fight against Boko Haram.

I reaffirmed our strong commitment
to working together with the United
States to put an end to global terrorism and particularly Boko Haram.

Nigeria will also work to deepen and
consolidate our bilateral relationship
with the United States.

I emphasized to Secretary Kerry that I am deeply committed to ensuring that our forthcoming election is free, fair, and credible.

It is especially critical that all political parties abide by the Abuja Accord, which commits each to non-violence before, during, and after the election.

I made it absolutely clear that the May 29th handover date is sacrosanct.

In addition, the Government will
provide all resources that are required by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the election goes smoothly.

I also emphasized that INEC is an
independent body, which makes its
own decisions without any interference from the Government.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President Federal Republic of
Nigeria

January 25, 2015