OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Nigeria

Floor Speech

Date: July 9, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Foreign Affairs

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make sure that we continue to address the threat of Boko Haram and to make sure we continue to work with the country of Nigeria.

It has been over 2 months since Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 girls from their school in northern Nigeria. To many Americans, this was the first time they had heard of Boko Haram, even though the organization has been attacking, kidnapping, and killing innocent Nigerians since 2009, but Nigeria is much more than Boko Haram.

I recently traveled to Nigeria with Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and 20 American companies on an energy business development trade mission. Nigeria is Africa's economic powerhouse that has incredible potential for partnership with American businesses.

Nigeria recently surpassed South Africa as the largest economy in Africa, and with a population of nearly 170 million people, partnering with Nigerian businesses will benefit the American economy.

Although we must continue our efforts to fight Boko Haram, we need to also make sure we engage Nigeria as our partner.


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