The United States has said said it will help President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to track down billions of dollars in stolen assets and increase U.S. military assistance to fight Islamic militants.
Buhari will visit the White House on Monday, and this, the U.S. administration views as a chance to set the seal on improving ties since he won the 2015 March election.
U.S. cooperation with Buhari’s predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, had virtually been grounded to a halt over issues including his refusal to investigate corruption and human rights abuses by the Nigerian military.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Tony Blinken said "President Barack Obama has long seen Nigeria as arguably the most important strategic country in sub-Saharan Africa. The question is would there be an opportunity to deepen our engagement and that opportunity is now."
U.S. officials have shown willingness to send military trainers to help Nigeria counter a six-year old insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamist sect.
On July 13, President Buhari sacked military chiefs appointed by his predecessor Jonathan. This move clears the way for more military cooperation according to U.S. officials.
Since Buhari's election in March, Washington has committed five million dollars in new support for a Multi-National Joint Task Force (MJTF) set up to fight the group.
This is in addition to 34 million dollars it is providing to Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger for equipment and logistics.
Add your comments here.