Medvedev in Nigeria to seal nuclear, gas pacts

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2009

ABUJA (AFP) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Nigeria Wednesday to sign a raft of pacts including key energy deals as part of a tour aimed at challenging Chinese and Western interests in Africa.

The first Kremlin leader to visit the energy-rich nation was greeted with a machine-gun salute -- reserved for visiting heads of state -- at President Umaru Yar'Adua's palm-lined villa in the capital Abuja.

Russia is negotiating to build a nuclear power plant in Nigeria and Russian natural gas giant Gazprom is set on further reinforcing its position as a cornerstone supplier for Europe and North America, officials said.

Taken together, deals also covering cooperation in space, telecoms and geological prospecting underline Russian strategic moves to challenge...