The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, has confirmed his country’s blocking of arms supply to Nigeria and tried to justify the limiting the scope of US assistance to Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram. He also disclosed that military personnel sent to Nigeria to help in securing the release of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls held by Boko Haram since their abduction since April 14 have been recalled home.

Entwistle made the disclosure at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State, in an interaction with journalists shortly after delivering a lecture as part of activities to mark the institution’s 10th year anniversary.

There had been reports that the US was stifling acquisition of high tech military hardware in the country’s quest to contain the activities of the dreaded sect.

Entwistle said one of the requirements for US assistance on procurement of sophisticated military hardware is for the US to look at the human rights record of that country.

The ambassador said that for Nigeria, there had been instances of human rights abuses across its borders, especially in the North-East, stressing that it would be wrong for the US to extend help to the Nigerian military in the face of gross human rights abuses.

He noted that it would be wrong of the US to extend help to the Nigerian military in the face of gross human rights abuses.

Entwistle, who was responding to the question that the US was not forthcoming in its support of Nigeria in the war against Boko Haram, explained that much as the US would have loved to assist Nigeria, it realised that “if you don’t take care of the soldiers on the ground, even if you buy hi-tech equipment, it doesn’t help the situation because it won’t work.”

He said it was this concerns which made it difficult for the US to be a little circumspect in Nigeria’s acquisition of military hitech military hardware.

The ambassador, however, stressed that the notion that the US was not sharing equipment with Nigeria was not true because so far the US and Nigeria had enjoyed “fantastic relationship which include the sharing of military intelligence and equipment support from the US to their Nigerian military counter-parts”.

On military personnel, Entwistle explained that the US military left Nigeria when it became clear that the government did not require the US military specialty in the government’s quest to release the Chibok girls from their Boko Haram captors.

He added that nonetheless the US support for the Nigerian government in its effort to secure the release of the girls still remained.

Entwistle said that the best was yet to come for Nigeria, noting that even though there were challenges being faced by the Nigerian state, he saw hope in the ability of the country to surmount this challenges to lead Africa.

He added that “even so every country at one time or the other has faced one challenges or the other” and pledged the support of the American people.

“Our commitment to help your country in these struggles has not changed it is growing every day,” the ambassador stated.

•Adapted from a National Mirror report. Photo shows US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle.

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