Nigeria, apart from being the fifth-largest source of American oil imports, is a key partner of the United States in containing a range of emerging transnational threats, writes Jendayi Frazer, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She wrote this guest column for allAfrica as a curtain-raiser to this week's visit to Washington DC by President Umaru Yar'Adua.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and I recently returned from Nigeria, where we met with President Umaru Yar'Adua, who had visited the United States for the first time this past September when he met with Secretary Condoleezza Rice. President Yar'Adua will be returning to the U.S. this week to meet with President Bush at the White House.
These visits provide an opportunity to launch a new phase in our relations because never before have our two countries shared such a spectrum of vital interests. Now is the time to build a robust U.S.-Nigeria partnership.
The fragility of Nigeria's young democracy is one reason we need to stay engaged. After 15 years of military rule, democracy was restored in 1999 and earlier this year the country experienced its first ever civilian-to-civilian transition. Yet the April 2007 elections were seriously flawed.
The U.S. has conveyed its profound disappointment with the conduct of the polls. We have also made it clear that we expect the legal challenges to the election results to proceed unimpeded and that an entirely new electoral commission is required.
Fortunately, the early signs indicate that President Yar'Adua agrees. Judges have already overturned several governors' elections, while electoral tribunals are beginning their work. More important, a serious and credible panel has been established to restructure the election system.
While some critics argue that the U.S. should walk away from Nigeria - the home of one in five Africans - we believe that these positive steps require our support and encouragement for this emerging democracy to succeed.
America's relationship with Nigeria is built on our mutual interests in economic partnership, regional security, and addressing the new threats of the 21st century.
It is no secret that Nigeria is a significant part of U.S. energy security and the fifth largest source of our oil imports. U.S. companies have already invested more than $3 billion in the country, and the Gulf of Guinea is one of the most promising regions for future oil and gas exploration.
But we are also working with the Nigerians to ensure that the proceeds from oil finally begin to build a more prosperous future for ordinary people. The U.S. took a lead in negotiating an $18 billion debt relief deal two years ago, freeing up the country's resources to allow greater investments in health and education.
We have also worked with Nigeria to encourage budget transparency and other economic reforms. We are now prepared to assist the government as it plans how best to deliver public services and unleash the entrepreneurial energy of its private sector. We also continue to support strongly the tremendous work of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which at great risk aggressively pursues corrupt officials and recovers stolen public money.
Nigeria continues to be indispensable to ending some of the world's most destructive conflicts. Its troops played leading roles in bringing peace to Liberia and Sierra Leone. They have sent three battalions to Darfur and are scheduled to send another soon, and they also may deploy a battalion to Somalia. The tragic deaths of seven Nigerian peacekeepers in Sudan in September serve to underscore the sacrifices the country is prepared to make for the region. As Africa has increasingly taken more responsibility for its own security, Nigeria has been the linchpin.
As important, Nigeria is a key U.S. partner in containing a range of emerging transnational threats. We have no choice but to work with Africa's most populous nation to combat the evils that know no borders, such as polio, HIV/AIDS, criminal and drug syndicates, and of course terrorism.
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Nigeria is itself a multicultural nation, home to some 70 million Muslims, and a recent poll by Pew showed that 70 percent of its citizens have a favorable view of the United States. Nevertheless the combination of poverty, youth unemployment, and strategic location make it a potential target for those seeking to exploit these conditions for their own nefarious ends. Nigeria's own moderate Islamic traditions - including in President Yar'Adua's home state of Katsina - are an example for the region and an important bulwark against extremist influence in the Sahel.
All of these interests mean that Nigeria and the U.S. both desire a closer relationship built on mutual respect and partnership. There are of course major challenges ahead, such as unrest in the Niger Delta, promotion of the rule of law and the enormous task of fighting corruption. But only by working together can Nigeria reach its vast potential as an economic and regional powerhouse, and the United States meet its goal of building a more secure and prosperous world.
