US seeks greater investment in Africa's health sector

ABUJA, Nigeria

The United States is seeking to invest more in Africa's health sector to create jobs and improve public health, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday.

"Africa has shaped the world in the past; it is still shaping the world and will shape the world in the future. We are focusing our attention on accelerating economic growth in Africa. American entrepreneurs and industries will invest in Nigeria, in Africa," Blinken announced at a joint press conference in Nigeria's capital Abuja.

The US secretary had a bilateral meeting with President Bola Tinubu and some senior Nigerian officials shortly after arriving in the country, the third leg of his four-nation visit to Africa.

He said economic partnership, military cooperation, the strengthening of democracy in Africa, fighting corruption, climatic issues and institutional growth were discussed with Tinubu.

Blinken commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc chaired by President Tinubu, for pushing for the return of constitutional order to Niger after the July 26, 2023 coup.

While responding to a question on the Israeli- Palestinian war, he said the US recognizes the territorial integrity of Gaza and Palestine.

Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar assured that his country would work with the US on common grounds and without recourse to their differences on the Israel-Gaza crisis.

Blinken was in Cape Verde and Ivory Coast and is expected to end his week-long tour to Africa in Angola on Thursday.