NIGERIA: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with President Umaru Yar'Adua in Abuja

Record ID: 235154

  • Title: NIGERIA: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with President Umaru Yar'Adua in Abuja
  • Date: 13th August 2009
  • Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (AUGUST 12, 2009) (REUTERS) HILLARY CLINTON ENTERS VARIOUS CLINTON WITH NIGERIAN PRESIDENT UMARU YAR'ADUA CLINTON SITS UNITED STATES EMBASSY OFFICIALS AT MEETING NIGERIAN OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) OJO MADUEKWE, NIGERIA FOREIGN SECRETARY, SAYING: "The Secretary of State has pledged the commitment of the Obama administration to evolve a special relationship with Nigeria that will warehouse in what will be known as US/Nigeria bi-national commission. Nothing could be stronger than that in terms of how two countries can work together almost on a daily basis, to strengthen understanding, to strengthen goodwill, to strengthen capacity." MADUEKWE SEES CLINTON OFF
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAPDZNUID4XNTW4XZ66G91ILE3
  • Story Text: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Nigeria on Wednesday (August 12) to take a firmer line on corruption and offered U.S. help to implement electoral reforms in Africa's biggest energy producer.
    Mismanagement and graft over decades have imperilled Nigeria's development, deterred investment, undermined democracy and deepened conflicts such as the insurgency in the southern Niger Delta and bouts of religious violence in the north.
    Clinton had meetings with President Umaru Yar'Adua and Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe during the day before saying the future of the country depended on good government, the fight against corruption and respect and understanding between religions, particularly Islam and Christianity.
    Africa's most populous nation of 140 million people is roughly equally divided between Christians and Muslims. More than 200 ethnic groups generally live peacefully side by side although there have been frequent bouts of bloodshed.
    Clinton said Washington was keen to support efforts to increase transparency and bolster democracy before national polls in 2011 and said the two countries planned a commission to tackle issues from Niger Delta violence to electoral reform.
    Maduekwe said Clinton had assured him that the Obama presidency wanted to build a special relationship with Nigeria.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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