Washington, DC - A U.S. delegation led by Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Cynthia Akuetteh will attend the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission working group on the Niger Delta, October 16-17 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

This is the second meeting of the Niger Delta working group, and the eighth in a series of working groups convened through the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission since its establishment in April 2010.

The discussions will center on accelerating development through public-private partnerships, enhancing environmental protection, and strengthening maritime security in the Niger Delta. The U.S. delegation will include Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs Reta Jo Lewis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations Ambassador Patricia Haslach, AFRICOM Air and Maritime Chief Phillip Heyl, U.S. Coast Guard Senior Technical Advisor Robert Pond, Department of Energy Liaison to AFRICOM Carolyn Gay, and USAID West Africa Office Director Edith Houston.