By Moses Patience Chat.
The United States of America (USA) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the controversial fuel subsidy before handing over power to a new administration on May 29.
The outgoing US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, made the position of the US government known on the matter, while speaking during a farewell meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Responding to the US Ambassador’s call, President Buhari said he was trying to finalize the unfinished job on the removal of fuel subsidy in the Nigeria, and that he was also in a hurry to leave office
and handover power to the next president of the country.
Leonard expressed her hopes that while Buhari is preparing to leave office, there are still a few things he could achieve, among which she said was the urgent need to remove fuel subsidy.
Speaking In response to the President’s expression of satisfaction with the blooming Nigeria-US relationship, the US Ambassador said she was happy with the progress made in Nigeria-US relations in the past three-and-half years of her diplomatic service in the country.
She also expressed her gratitude and that of the US government to President Buhari on his role in ensuring regional security and strengthening of democracy as a system of government, adding that the President’s strong response against the recent surge of coups-d’état in West Africa was commendable.
During the farewell ceremony, Buhari outlined a number of challenges that the country has encountered while striving to unite diverse communities, as well as achieve national development.
He further expressed his hopes that Nigeria will continue to make progress in building a nation out of her different and competitive communities, despite many obstacles.
The Nigerian leader praised the outgoing US Ambassador for the enormous achievements recorded in Nigeria-US relations in the three-and-half years that she has served in the country. While expressing that he had enjoyed working with Leonard, President Buhari also said he wished that the outgoing US Ambassador had more time to serve in Nigeria.