Clinton Talks Agriculture in Nigeria

August 28, 2000

President Clinton and Nigerian President Obasanjo last week spent "a fair amount of time" on agricultural issues, according to administration officials. Obasanjo reportedly wants to "rehabilitate" agriculture as quickly as possible, both to meet local food needs and to diversify an economy that now is highly dependent on oil.

They also agreed to "some cooperation" on biotechnology, although details were not provided in the news briefing. A regional conference with the Nigerians for later this year. Also on the agenda was discussion about Nigeria’s participation in an initiative on school lunches and making at least one nutritional meal available per day to school children with the aim of expanding primary school enrollment.