President Bush Visits Nigeria

President George William Bush of the United States will visit Nigeria this week as part of a 5 nation African trip which will also take him to Senegal, South Africa, Botswana and Uganda. The trip which was to have taken place last January was postponed because of the Iraq war.

The trip to Nigeria will be the first by a Republican President, the earlier ones undertaken by President Jimmy Carter in the 1970s and President Bill Clinton in 2000 both Democrats.

The trip to Nigeria underscores United States appreciation of Nigeria's strategic role in Africa and respect for President Obasanjo leadership role on the continent. According to President Bush, "Nigeria is too important to U.S. foreign policy as well as war against terrorism to be missed in his current trip".

In a pre-trip interview with journalists President Bush expressed appreciation at the leadership role Nigeria is playing in regional peace-keeping and security as well as the global war on terrorism. The trip according to the U.S. President demonstrates American commitment and care for the sufferings and plight of the African continent. He identifies some of American commitments in addressing the situation on the continent to include increased aid and equipment for the establishment of regional stabilization force for peace-keeping and security, the Millennium Challenge Account the $15 billion 5 year Programme designed to tackle the HIV/AIDs pandemic in Africa, $800 million education initiative, and the expansion of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).

Other issues expected to dominate President Bush African trip include Africa's contribution to the global war on terrorism, African resistance to the introduction of genetically modified food, the Liberian internal conflict, regional security and stability, oil and trade issues.