Senior US envoy Johnnie Carson arrived in Nigeria Saturday for talks expected to include global terrorism, after a Nigerian’s botched Christmas Day bombing of a US plane that raised tensions.
The US assistant secretary of state for Africa travelled to Lagos from neighbouring Benin, embassy spokesman David Renz said. “He has begun his programme of meetings,” he said.
Carson is likely to bring up in his meetings concerns about a power vacuum in the key oil producer, with Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’Adua in Saudi Arabia since November 23 receiving treatment for a heart condition.
The embassy did not give details of his schedule but diplomatic officials said he was due in the capital Abuja Monday and would meet acting leader Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe and civic leaders.
The mission said Friday said Carson would discuss with Nigerian authorities issues of governance, elections, corruption, trade improvement and investment opportunities.
“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.
The 23-year-old Nigerian’s attempt to blow up a US plane on Christmas Day led the United States to place Nigeria on a list of 14 countries from which travellers would face extra security checks, angering Abuja.
Nigerian authorities warned the move could touch off an unprecedented diplomatic spat and hurt the longstanding relations between the two countries.
But the embassy statement quoted Carson as saying: “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,” he said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in January however that a “failure” by Nigeria’s government to address young people’s needs was breeding the radicalism seen in the Christmas Day bombing plot.
Clinton also warned during a tour of Nigeria in August that lack of transparency and accountability was eroding the Nigerian government’s legitimacy and the global aspirations of Africa’s most populous nation.
Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence from the troubled country — where clashes between Muslims and Christians this month left hundreds dead, while militants have threatened to attack an oil facilities — has also raised concerns.
In Nigeria there have been mounting calls for Jonathan to be declared acting head although the cabinet appears split on the issue.
The United States, European Union, Britain and France said on January 28 meanwhile that the situation created “uncertainty”.
“Nigeria?s stability and democracy carry great significance beyond its immediate borders,” given its importance as a global oil producer and stabilising force in west Africa, they said in a statement.
Carson is on a four-nation tour of West Africa that has also taken him to Ghana and Togo.