U.S.

Secretary of State in Nigeria: The recent clashes in the north and the situation in the
Niger Delta in the center of talks

12/08/2009

U.S. Secretary of State continues its journey through Africa Nigeria. Hillary Clinton and
his Nigerian counterpart, Ojo Madu-kwe, have toured the major issues of the hour. This
particular issue was the recent clashes in the north of the country between security forces
and militants of the Islamist group Boko Haram.

An investigation is underway to determine whether foreign extremists have played a role

in these incidents, "said Madu-kwe. "The security services consider this aspect. Is it
possible that groups of fanatical foreigners in our culture try to infiltrate them? We know
that the world is faced with this possibility, and we do not naively believe that Nigeria is
not on the radar of such extremist groups, "said the head of the Nigerian diplomacy.

"There is no doubt, from our assessment on the presence of Al-Qaeda in North Africa and
the Sahel. There is no doubt in our mind that Al-Qaeda and similar organizations, union
members from terror, to seek support wherever they could find, "said for his part,
Secretary State Clinton, adding that it is the Nigerian authorities to make allowances.

Nigeria is the fifth supplier of crude oil in the United States globally ceNiger File Delta in
Nigeria was also discussed by the two heads of diplomacy. The amnesty offered by
President Yar'Adua to the militants of the Niger Delta is already beginning to have an
impact on domestic production of crude oil, has assured Mr Madu-kwe. "It is increasing,
it is improving, the simple perception that peace is coming back and that the amnesty is
that the levels of oil production back gradually," said Nigerian Minister of Foreign
Affairs.

For her part, Mrs. Clinton referred to the proposals "very promising" security officials in
Nigeria. "We will determine, through our efforts in the mechanism of our bilateral
commission that Nigeria expects of us as an aid, as we know it is an internal matter and
that it is the Nigerian people and its government resolve, then we will see what assistance
we can offer, "said Clinton.

For Urdu Ayuba, professor of political science at the University of Zaria, in Kaduna State,
the Nigerian opposition expects Mrs. Clinton raised the issue of electoral reforms that the
government is slow to implement. The average Nigerian, he is convinced that the high
cost of living is due to the decline of the national currency, the naira, against the dollar
and hopes that the United States will be something about it, "said Professor Ayuba.