Although security is the main concern, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria John Campbell says the United States is not interested in constructing a naval base in the region.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria John Campbell concluded a security pact with Nigeria to protect the Gulf of Guinea from security threats and "international financial crimes" such as money laundering, the U.S. Embassy said Tuesday in a report carried by Business Day. The agreement could go a long way towards alleviating concerns in Sao Tome over issues presented in the Sao Tome attorney general's recent 71-page report if they arise in the future. Photo: U.S. Department of State.
The agreement seems to be provide a possible locus for resolution of the issues raised in the unreleased report by Sao Tome Atty. General Arlindo Pereira, and the timing suggests it may be intended as such.
Pereira declined to say yesterday, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, whether he would take the issue further than delivering his report to the President, Prime Minister and Parliament.
Both the U.S. Justice Dept. and the SEC declined to comment on the report when asked for a response by Reuters on Tuesday.
Hearings are scheduled to begin in Parliament on the report's findings Wednesday, under the aegis of the Commission on Petroleum Affairs, Sao Tome vice-president Carlos Nevis said yesterday. The commission examined the same allegations last Spring before approving the awards of five blocks in the Gulf of Guinea Joint Development Zone to ERHC Energy (OTC BB symbol: ERHE) and others.
A United States commitment to investigate "international financial crimes" might have scope enough to include an examination of future block awards and alleviate the Sao Tome official's concern over possible wrongdoing in the future. It is unlikely to of sufficiently scope to address the repeatedly examined and discarded allegations that make up much of the report, however.
Here is the story from Business Day, posted late Tuesday night on the I-Hub site:
December 12th, 2005
US, Nigeria partner on Gulf of Guinea
Nigeria and the US have entered into partnership to provide security in the Gulf of Guinea for the common good.
US ambassador to Nigeria John Campbell told a joint press conference with NNPC Group Managing Director Funsho Kupolokun today in Abuja on Gulf of Guinea security.
"America will pursue an active partnership with Nigeria for peace and prosperity in the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta," Campbell said.
He said the U.S. had agreed to an ongoing engagement with Nigeria in the area of security cooperation, international financial crimes collaboration, agricultural enterprise development, jobs and business development.
According to him, US and Nigeria have agreed to continued consultative action on disrupting illicit small-arms trafficking; bolster maritime and coastal security, promoting community development as well as combating money laundering.
"Success in any of these area will go long way in improving the lives and livelihood of the people of the Niger Delta," the Ambassador said.
Campbell said the U.S. was not interested in putting a base in the Gulf of Guinea.
"US has never and is not contemplating setting up a military base in the Gulf of Guinea," he said.
Earlier, Kupolokun said President Obasanjo had set up Gulf of Guinea security working group which he was heading.
He said the group would collaborate with international agencies and other governments to design a highly coordinated campaign to prevent illegal oil bunkering and other crimes.
"The Nigerian government is doing its best to address identifies challenges in the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta," he said.
He thanked the American government for showing interest in energy security in the Gulf of Guinea.
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