US pledges $600m in aid to Nigeria

In a move that will strengthen bilateral ties, the United States has pledged 600 million dollars in developmental assistance to Nigeria in 2016.The US Secretary of State on Friday, made the pledge during a meeting of the US/Nigeria Bi-national Commission on the sidelines of the Nuclear Energy Summit in Washington DC.

According to Mr John Kerry, the sum is expected to cover health, education, energy, food, security among other sectors.

The US Secretary of State also held talks with Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Kerry said that he is greatly encouraged by President Buhari’s commitment to diversifying Nigeria’s economy.

The Nigerian President joined over 50 world leaders in attending the Nuclear Energy Summit.

Top on the agenda of the summit is the North Korea’s nuclear programme and the threat of the Islamic State gaining access to the nuclear weapons.