Monday 27 July 2009
Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
The United States of America Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, will be visiting Nigeria from August 10 to 12 2009. A letter from the US State Department notifying the Nigerian government of Hillary's visit has been received at the Nigerian foreign affairs ministry, media reports confirmed.
Hillary clinton
The US ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Rene'e Sanders and Nigeria’s foreign affairs minister, Ojo Maduekwe met on Sunday in Abuja to kick off arrangements for the visit, according to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

During the visit, Hillary is expected to hold discussion with President Umaru Yar’Adua on a number of issues affecting both countries.

Since Nigeria is becoming more indispensable as the US continues to look beyond the strife-torn Middle-East for its energy needs, sources said the Niger Delta crisis is expected to top the agenda of Hillary’s meeting with Yar’Adua.

US’s crude oil import from Nigeria is on the increase with Nigeria recording a 16.2 per cent rise in its crude export to the U.S. last year. Corruption and electoral reforms are two other issues likely to dominate discussions during Hillary’s meeting with Yar’Adua according to sources.
africanews