In a pivotal 30-minute phone call on Tuesday around 4 p.m. Nigerian time, President Bola Tinubu engaged with U.S. President Joe Biden to address key bilateral issues. The conversation, confirmed by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, concentrated on enhancing cooperation in areas of financial crime and international compliance, as well as broader security concerns across Africa.
Ambassador Tuggar, speaking to State House Correspondents, highlighted the significance of the discussion, noting the recent release of Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Head of Finance Crime Compliance. This topic underscored a shared commitment to law enforcement cooperation in tackling global financial crimes.
“The call was about collaboration between the two countries concerning law enforcement agencies and the release of a suspect involved in cryptocurrency exchange compliance,” said Tuggar. “Mr. President expressed gratitude to the U.S. for its ongoing partnership in security matters, particularly in West Africa.”
The discussion also touched on Africa’s representation on the United Nations Security Council. President Biden conveyed the United States’ commitment to supporting a permanent seat for Africa and expressed optimism that Nigeria could be among those to hold this influential role.
This call signals a strengthening relationship between Nigeria and the U.S., as both leaders emphasized the strategic importance of Africa’s role in global affairs and their shared objectives in combating financial crimes on an international scale.