US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Nigeria on Wednesday to discuss matters concerning the development of democracy, anti-corruption efforts, and cooperation in the petroleum sector.
This West African country is the fifth leg of Clinton”s African tour. She has already visited Kenya, the Republic of South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and is yet to visit Liberia and Cabo Verde.
According to diplomatic sources, Clinton, when meeting President Umaru Musa Yar”Adua in Abuja, will emphasize the need for Nigerian authorities to take resolute measures to fight graft and embezzlement of public funds. The United States also insists on an electoral reform in Nigeria to avoid misunderstandings and strain, as was the case in 2007 when Yar”Adua came to power.
The upcoming talks are also to deal with forthcming reforms in Nigeria”s petroleum sector. These worry the major American corporations, the ExxonMobil and Chevron, that operate in this ocuntry, because reforms may burdern the two corporations with additional expenses and lead to a revision of the current contracts. This information is confirmed by sources in Nigeraian government circles, who maintain that the new bill attaches paramount importance to upholding national interests and may prove to be not to the liking of foreign companies.
Nigeria meets eight percent of the American market”s requirements for oil. At present US investments in the country”s petroleum industry amount to $15,000 million.
