Can the US solve Nigeria’s economic, security problems?Voxpop

On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari visited the US President, Donald Trump, in the White House, where the two leaders discussed issues pertaining to the security and economy of Nigeria. Though the American President claimed that the US may invest in Nigeria, “if a level playing ground is provided,” he expressed concerns about the security challenges being faced in the country. PAUL OKAH and ROSEMARY MORIBIRIN speak with Nigerians on the outcome of the meeting.
Buhari playing a blame game


Trump got elected two years ago, against his unpopularity in most countries; including Nigeria. Personally, I’m a big supporter of Trump. However, what this visit holds for the economy of this country is not much, as it will always be the meeting of mere rhetorics. I’ve come to know Buhari as a man who speaks from both sides of his mouth. Obama was clearly a key supporter of the Buhari/Osinbanjo ticket in 2015,against the then incumbent government of Goodluck Jonathan. Shortly after his victory in 2015, Buhari in the company of a very large Nigerian delegation, took a trip to USA to thank “Oga Obama” for his support. Coming back home, we were always re-assured that Boko Haram has been extinguished, so why the blame on Obama, who left office two years ago? A question begging for answer now is this: is the President now telling us that he can’t arrest insurgency in his domain, without foreign assistance? So why then accuse Obama your “friend” now for your leadership failure in securing the lives and property of your citizens? Let’s hope the agreement will have something to add to us, otherwise, it is a waste of tax payers money.
Ayerite Sylvanus, a civil servant.

Let’s hope for the best
A leader is one who accepts responsibilities for his or her actions and makes adjustments, but not President Buhari; who blatantly blames any and everything for his very abysmal performance for three years running now. I didn’t really expect much from this meeting of Trump and Buhari and I am not surprised at the outcome. Who knows, come 2019, Buhari might tell us that the visit was a colossal suicide. After all, didn’t his media aides, Pastor Femi Adesina and Imam Garba Shehu, tell us three years ago that his visit then to Obama was “very very” historic and will open vistas of immense assistance to Nigeria from the US? Yet,just after three years, they are singing another tone under President Trump. Let me be optimistic and hope that great support will come through for the federal government in fighting Boko Haram, but the Buhari government should be truthful to Nigerians about the true state of its fight; involvement and victory against the insurgents.
Yusuf Danladi, a civil servant.

I would have preferred China
Even though Trump has promised that the US government will help Nigeria in fighting terrorism, I seriously doubt it. I’m just not comfortable with Buhari’s visit to Trump,because the US President is a racist. He hates Blacks and will only use Africans as a means to an end. Our President must have signed a document to sell this country into slavery or colonialism, in the name of a bilateral agreement, because he obviously doesn’t read. I would have preferred a collaboration with China in order for us to learn some technological innovations. Whether we like it or not, America does not have anything to offer us, except if they are on the lookout for their selfish interest.
Joseph Omosimua, a teacher.

Sign of progress
Sincerely speaking, American President agreeing to help Nigeria fight insurgency is a welcome development. You only have to look at the Benue killings and other Boko Haram activities, especially in the northern part of the country to understand that our government is very helpless. The recent twin bomb blast in Adamawa State on Tuesday, where about 24 worshippers died and several others injured in a mosque, is a reference point to the fact that we really need outside help to fight terrorism. Our government appears to be helpless and there is no need pretending, because it is there for everyone to see. The duty of every well-meaning government is to protect lives and property of its citizens, so the willingness of the US to help out is a plus to the APC government.
Musa Abubakar, a tailor.

Our economy is under threat
From history, the US can never agree to help any country, except if there’s something they stand to gain. Donald Trump has a hidden interest in Nigeria, because I can remember his referring to Nigerians in America as assholes and monkeys who would never like to go back to their huts in Nigeria. We should be careful with whatever agreement that Buhari purportedly signed with America, because our economy might be under threat. Trump even had to mention that Nigeria is corrupt, so I wonder what he intends to achieve with his unclear interest in a corrupt country.
Michelle Ademola, a trader.

Boko Haram still holding sway
President Buhari and his ministers are always shooting themselves on the leg. They are the same people that told us some time ago that American and Israeli armies had spotted the location of the Boko Haram group in Sambisa forest, using GPS. They also told us that the Boko Haram sect have been defeated. Why is the President still blaming and saying that America is the reason why Boko Haram was not defeated during President Obama’s tenure? Maybe President Buhari is not aware that his ministers and security agencies made the statement that has cast a question mark on his government. The statement released by the Presidency that Boko Haram would have been defeated long ago if Obama,the immediate past American President, had supported Nigeria with military aide is somehow controversial. Nevertheless, I am glad that he didn’t deliver controversial speeches with President Trump to undermine Nigeria during the meeting. He said every word on the script and signed what analysts believe to be a bilateral agreement between the US and Nigeria, but he didn’t achieve anything by my reckoning.
Blaise Ibe, an IT guru.

We are still in recession
I believe we need the help of the US in order to come out of recession. I was impressed when Trump indicated interest to invest in Nigeria if there’s a level playing ground for the US government. He even promised to visit Nigeria to see the amazing country for himself. Government should put measures in place to make sure that we provide a level playing ground for the US to come to our aide through the agreement that Buhari signed with America, because we are still in recession. The effort against corruption should be intensified and recovered loot reinvested in the economy for growth. That’s one of the ways that the economy can improve and be promising enough for a country as developed as the US to be attracted to invest. If we don’t take time, the opportunity may pass us by and we will continue to be in recession, so government should do the needful.
Cynthia Usman, a student.

Security is our problem
The visit of Buhari to America yielded the expected results, as the US President agreed to help us solve our security challenges. The US is advanced and well experienced to handle security challenges and I believe that Nigeria will benefit immensely from the agreement with the US government. Government have already acquired two helicopters to help in the fight against insurgency and I believe the Buhari government is on the right track. Out of the discussion with Trump, the issue of terrorism and economy were the crucial points that the world leaders agreed to partner on, so I believe that the issue of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen attacks will be an issue of the past. The killings are just too much and need to stop, otherwise we may get to a point whereby they will be none to bury the dead.
Ekaette Okon, business woman.

American agreement will affect agricultural program
Trump clearly stated that he’s not interested in the Nigerian oil or any other thing, but to provide new market for American farmers. So, he’s not buying anything from us neither is he investing anything in Nigeria. He simply created markets for Dangote and American farmers,because Dangote holds the monopoly right to import so many commodities into Nigeria without competition. So, the moment Buhari was signing those deals that includes military hardware transfer, 12 Tuscanos jets, training and parts, Dangote was signing as the sole beneficiary of the importation of agricultural produce. It is just the insecurity in Nigeria that is preventing farmers from going back to their farms, therefore creating food scarcity and high cost of living in our homes. We know the havoc wrecked so far by Fulani herdsmen invading and burning down farms across the country.
So, while Buhari will receive tonne of grains and other foodstuffs directly from American farmers in the next few months, crashing the food prices across the country, his decision will defeat his government’s hyped fertilizer program, which encourages farmers to return to farm; which in itself is a ruse.
Mustapha Yusuf, a political scientist.

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