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US-Nigerian Relations Good, Says Envoy

   Douglas Mpuga 19 May 2010

   The  Nigerian  Senate  on  Tuesday  named Kaduna State governor Namadi
   Sambo as the countryâs new vice president.
   He  replaces  Goodluck  Jonathan,  who  became president following the
   death of President Umaru Yar'Adua earlier this month.
   With the naming of the vice president, Nigeria appears to have reached
   an   end  to  six  months  of  uncertainty  about  the  countryâs  top
   leadership.   Jonathan  had  been  serving  as  acting  president for
   YarâAdua, who had been ill for several months.
   The  transition  so  far  seems to have had little effect on Nigeriaâs
   relations with the international community.
   âU.S.-Nigeria  relations  are  at  a  good  place,â  said  Robin Renee
   Sanders,  the  United  States  Ambassador  to Nigeria.  She cited the
   bi-national commission signed in April that is about to be launched.
   âI think it is a reflection of not only the strategic dialogue we want
   to  have  with  Nigeria  but  the  importance  of  Nigeria  to  the US
   government,â she said.
   She  said electoral reform has been a key topic of discussions between
   the two countries over the past few years.
   âOf  late,  we  have  focused  a lot ,â  she said, ââ¦.on encouraging
   transparency   in  the  voter  registry  and  having  strong  and  new
   leadership within the independent electoral commission, and that seems
   to be happening.â
   General elections in Nigeria take place next year.  Shortly after his
   inauguration,  Jonathan  renewed  his  pledge  to  carry out electoral
   reforms and to help achieve a free and fair vote.
   Last  Friday,   three  former Nigerian heads of state urged President
   Goodluck  Jonathan  to  "do  the right thing" and ensure that credible
   elections take place in Africa's most populous nation.
   The  ambassador  also  expressed  optimism  that the amnesty for Niger
   Delta rebels initiated by the YarâAdua administration will succeed.
   âWe  believe  the amnesty is the right thing to do,â she said. âWe are
   looking  forward  to  seeing  what  the  current  [president Goodluck]
   Jonathan administration is going to do to further enhance and solidify
   the amnesty.â
   She  said  the  US is also working with Muslim communities in northern
   Nigeria   especially  in  areas  of  development  like  education  and
   health.   Itâs part of a broader effort by the US government to show
   support and friendship with the Islamic world.

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