Ademola Ayokanmi Daily : As President Buhari arrives US, Obama promise to help Nigeria track down stolen assets and increase military assistance

The hope of a robust diplomatic ties between United States and Nigeria rose yesterday as some US officials revealed the readiness of President Barack Obama administration to help Nigeria fight corruption in terms of tracking down billions of dollars in stolen assets as well as boost US military assistance against Islamic militants, Boko Haram.

The visit of President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, July 19,2015to Washington is seen by many political watchers as an opportunity to re-energise already frosty diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Prior to this time, Obama administration’s cooperation with the Nigeria under the administration of the former president, Goodluck Jonathan was riddled by serious allegations of his refusal to investigate widespread corruption in the public service and human rights abuses by the Nigerian military in the fight against the notorious Islamist group Boko Haram.

President Muhammad Buhari arrives in US

While sounding optimistic in an interview with Reuters, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken informed: 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.

In another media report, U.S. officials were quoted saying the US is willing to send military trainers to help Nigeria counter a six year-old Boko Haram Islamist movement in the northern part of the country. The officials went further to point out that since Buhari's election in March this year, Washington has committed $5 million in new support for a multi-national task force set up to fight the group. This is in addition to about $34 million she is providing to Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger for equipment and logistics.

Last week’s replacement of service chiefs by Buhari has also laid a new foundation for more military cooperation based on the comment of a senior US official on the action of the president. The official said: We've made clear there are additional things that can be done especially now that there is a new military leadership in place.

In no small measure, the readiness of President Obama and new policy thrust of the United States towards Nigeria will in no small measure boost President Buhari’s resolve to strengthening Nigerian economy in the face of falling oil prices, fight corruption in high places and encourage foreign investment.