Nigerian leader: Forces ready soon to take on Boko Haram

Buhari’s visit, billed as a chance to “underscore the United States’ longstanding friendship with Nigeria”, was seen as a departure from previous rocky relations between the nations.

Obama, speaking to reporters at the outset of the meeting, said Buhari has “a very clear agenda in defeating Boko Haram and extremists of all sorts inside of his country”.

Buhari’s May 29 inauguration was followed by a surge in attacks by the six-year-old uprising that aims to form an Islamic state and has killed more than 15,000 people while driving 1.5 million from their homes. “We are taking our time because we want to bring them (Chibok girls) back safe to their parents and their school”.

[Nigeria’s new president, an ex-military man, vows to crush Boko Haram].

Buhari, for his part, said Nigeria would be “ever grateful” to the USA for its support of free elections in his country.

“If Boko Haram opts for negotiation, the government will not be averse to it”, Femi Adesina, a Buhari spokesman, said in a statement.

The President hinted that if his government is convinced the girls would be delivered safe and sound, it will negotiate with the sect members.

He appealed to U.S. business leaders and the Obama administration to help develop governance initiatives that would ensure that Nigeria’s wealth benefits its people, not just a few.

According to a statement from the Nigerian presidency, the meeting will focus on “measures to strengthen and intensify bilateral and global cooperation against terrorism in Nigeria and west Africa”.

“Nigeria is obviously one of the most important countries in the world, one of the most important countries in the African continent”.

The Punch newspaper said in its lead story that United States seeks to “reset” ties with Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria.

[Editorial: Mr. Obama’s visit to Ethiopia sends the wrong message on democracy].

In praising this year’s peaceful transfer of power, Obama said “the people of Nigeria understand that only through a peaceful political process can change take place”.

Given that, it’s not immediately clear why Obama chose to leave Nigeria off his itinerary. “By turning out in large numbers and sometimes waiting all day to cast their votes, Nigerians came together to decide the future of their country peacefully”.

To tackle the situation, he said, his government would first instill rules and good governance, followed by the installation of experienced and capable officials to manage state agencies and ministries. The U.S., the United Kingdom and others in the worldwide community warned those considering disrupting the elections that there would be serious consequences.

Nigeria was once a booming region for oil reserves and energy.