UK Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has visited Nigeria this week following HE President Yar'Adua's London meeting with the Prime Minister in June, where energy was a key theme of their discussion.

Whilst there he met with Nigerian energy ministers and visited the Delta to gain an understanding of the situation in Nigeria first hand.

Speaking in Nigeria, Mr Wicks said: "I came here to continue discussions with my Nigerian counterparts and to understand more about the energy challenges in Nigeria. The UK is keen to see whether our energy experience can help the Nigerian Government to implement their far reaching energy sector reforms.

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"We have discussed Nigeria's oil and gas production, including their implementation of a recently launched Gas Master Plan and the prospects for ending gas flaring, the reform and restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the important work of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

"I support Nigeria's efforts to better use oil and gas revenues which, together with fiscal discipline and transparency, can make a positive difference to livelihoods of the Nigerian people.

"The UK and Nigeria have a close relationship on many issues; I hope that this can be extended to the energy field and that this visit can help to further strengthen our partnership."

During bilateral discussions, the prospects for increasing oil and gas production in Nigeria and the need for a strong investment climate to ensure this potential is realised were discussed.

(CD/JM)