The Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, James Entwistle, on Wednesday said no country could tackle piracy and terrorism without international collaboration.
Entwistle made the disclosure in Lagos when he visited the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade.
According to him, the visit is part of preparations for the annual multinational sea exercise in the Gulf of Guinea, billed for the second quarter of the year.
The ambassador, who noted that piracy and terrorism were international crimes, said the US was conscious Nigeria’s challenges.
The US was, therefore, ready to partner with Nigeria to overcome the challenges, he added.
The ambassador said: “Piracy and terrorism are international crimes and the only way to solve them is to work together across national boundaries.
“No nation can tackle the problems alone.”
On why the US was partnering with Nigeria and what it stood to gain, Entwistle said: “Nigeria is the most important nation in Africa.
“We partner with Nigeria, especially the navy, in the Gulf of Guinea operation because we stand to gain from greater security in the region.
“Nigeria, being our greatest partner in Africa, also stands to gain from a stronger Nigerian Navy.”
Responding, Alade commended the US Government for the cooperation, saying the Nigerian Navy was benefiting a lot from the partnership.
He said the Nigerian Navy was preparing for the multinational sea exercise and had been consulting with its US counterparts.
He said: “The final preparation forum billed for next week is expected to be a good forum where issues will be tabled.”
Earlier, the Italian Defence Attache to Nigeria, Colonel Fucci Michel, and his Deputy, Tony Neljulka, had visited the command to work out modalities for the exercise.
The multinational sea exercise, billed to take place in February, is to enable the Nigerian and US navy to reinforce existing collaborations.
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