US envoy due in Nigeria as political crisis mounts

LAGOS
Petroleumworld.com, Feb 05, 2010

A top US envoy is to discuss Nigeria's government crisis and international terrorism during a trip to the African nation starting this weekend, diplomats said.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Johnnie Carson will hold talks with acting leader Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe as well as the heads of civic groups in the country, sources said.

Carson will arrive amid a power vacuum in the key oil producer as President Umaru Yar'Adua has been in Saudi Arabia since November 23 receiving treatment for a heart condition. One minister has called for Yar'Adua to transfer powers.

Nigeria has also been in the spotlight after a Nigerian man was charged with trying to blow up an airliner over the US city of Detroit on December 25.

Carson is on a four-nation tour of West Africa that also includes Ghana, Togo and Benin.

The US mission in Nigeria did not give the exact date of Carson's arrival for security reasons. Another diplomatic source said he will arrive Lagos on Saturday and travel to the capital Abuja on Monday to meet the vice president and foreign minister.

They will discuss governance, elections, corruption, trade and investment opportunities, the statement said.

"Carson's visit underscores the continuing importance of the US-Nigeria bilateral relationship and the desire of the US government to engage with Nigeria on issues of importance to both countries," the US statement said.

"The US government looks forward to working with the government of Nigeria as a partner on aviation security and other measures to combat international terrorism," it added, referring to the Christmas Day arrest of Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, 23, son of a senior Nigerian banker.

"Our friendship and relationship with Nigeria has not changed. We thank Nigerians for their well wishes since the December 25 attempted attack, and as good bilateral partners we will work together against global threats such as this," the statement quoted Carson as saying.

A senior official of a major Nigerian human rights group told AFP that he received an official notice that Carson will meet with representatives of civil society groups in Lagos at the weekend.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Nigeria in August.

Story from AFP
AFP 02/05/2010 18:37

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