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A statement quoted Donald L. Heflin, Acting Office Director, West African Affairs in a paper entitled “Political Dynamics Affecting the Business Climate in Nigeria” as saying that there is no reason to believe Nigeria's policies of macroeconomic reform and close ties with the United States would diminish.
He said that the US is encouraged by Yar'Adua's public and private commitments to various reforms, but recognises that he is operating in a complex political environment.
“Ironically, a flawed electoral process appears to have brought to power a man of integrity. This result is important. The United States shares with Nigerians their disappointment over the conduct of the April 2007 elections, and some critics will no doubt urge the US to isolate Nigeria. But the stakes are too great to walk away,” Heflin said.
According to him, the best way to nurture Nigeria’s fragile democracy is for the US to engage on the very issues at risk such as political reform, regional security and economic opportunity. He observed that one of the biggest challenges facing Yar'Adua and other new political leaders is how to address the unrest in the oil-rich Niger River Delta.
"The problems there are real and, while they may seem daunting, they can be addressed and resolved. We acknowledge the legitimate aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta and would like to offer development and other expertise to help pursue goals such as controlling piracy, corruption, and other crime,” he said.
He said that the issue at hand is not a lack of resources or talent but the commitment and political will of the federal and various state governments.
Heflin noted that forces resistant to change will continue to attempt to hinder progress because Nigeria's institutional foundations have been hollow from decades of neglect and corruption that will continue to make the country susceptible to recurring crises in the coming years.
His words: "The government has not stemmed lawlessness and insecurity, and Nigerians are demoralised from worsening living conditions.
We have often said that the greatest obstacles to Nigeria's advancement are deeply entrenched poverty and unemployment, continued pervasive corruption, ineffective governance, and the need for electoral reform.
Decades of unaccountable rule have eroded health and education infrastructure, suppressed democratic institutions, and stifled job creation."
On power generation in Nigeria, he said that power infrastructure is in dire strait, adding that for about 7500 megawatts of installed capacity, Nigeria's plants produced merely 1500-2300 megawatts last year while estimated demand is 15-25 times as high as production.
"Our goal is to help Nigeria establish itself as a fully democratic, free-market reformer. I am glad to have had this chance to highlight Nigeria's importance as a strategic partner of the United States,” he concluded.
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