WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has urged Nigeria's Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to make "historic" progress in combating corruption and backed his vow to forge electoral reform, US officials said.
Jonathan met Obama on Sunday during his first foreign trip, to Washington for a nuclear security summit, since taking over two months ago from Nigeria's ailing president Umaru Yar'Adua.
"The president reiterated that the United States places great importance on the US relationship with Nigeria and the Nigerian people," the White House said in a statement issued after the meeting at the Blair House official guest house.
"The president added that a strong, democratic, prosperous Nigeria is in the US national interest".
Jonathan agreed with Obama on the need to respect constitutional law, to work toward free and fair elections and on economic development, the statement said.
Obama "urged Acting President Jonathan to use his tenure to make historic and tangible progress in strengthening the Nigerian government's commitment to follow through on countering corruption," it added, noting Obama pledged US support to the acting Nigerian leader "in realizing his public promise for electoral reform".
The statement said the two leaders also discussed the importance of combating terrorism.
It did not specify whether they talked about an attempt to blow up a US jet bound for Detroit on Christmas Day. A Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, is accused of trying to detonate explosives concealed in his underwear during the foiled attack, blamed on an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
Nigerian officials have said Jonathan last week met the father of the accused. The attack resulted in Washington placing Nigeria on its aviation security blacklist.
AFP
