Bilateral agreements crown Clinton visit

US President Bill Clinton wrapped up a historic visit to Nigeria on Monday after signing a number of bilateral agreements with President Olusegun Obasanjo. While support came from the United States in several areas, Clinton could offer little relief from a US $28-billion debt that Nigerians had been hoping would be eased. Clinton, however, reaffirmed US support for generous Paris Club rescheduling, while pointing out that Nigeria had to demonstrate that its oil revenues would not disappear as they had in the past. Obasanjo said he would do what he could to help bring down the price of oil, which the United States would like to see drop by about US $10. Nigeria is the world's sixth largest producer and much of its oil goes to the United States. The bilateral agreements included commitments to intensify cooperation on military reform, reduce the spread of HIV and battle international drug trafficking. The two leaders also signed an open-skies agreement. Clinton, the second US president to visit Nigeria in 22 years, had snubbed Abuja during a trip to Africa in 1998 because the nation was under military rule. Obasanjo, who was elected last year, is attempting to guide Nigeria through its difficult democratic transition after years of corrupt rule by the nation's generals.