I am grateful, Chairman Durbin, for your crafting a bill that insists on training, on data collection, and on a narrowly crafted response to a significant problem.

We believe that there needs to be a comprehensive strategy, one in which the Government of Nigeria not only addresses the security threat, but equally addresses the socioeconomic problems that exist in northern Nigeria.

I would be interested in hearing, Ms. Cromer and Mr. Marin, about how the reality or the perception of danger, of the threat of terrorism, of corruption, is it or is it not a significant barrier to attracting interest in investment by…

Our trip then came on the heels of last year's elections and President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration.

Senator Isakson and I had an opportunity in Accra to visit with a number of different Commerce and State employees who were working hard on improving regional trade, on reducing barriers, both transportation and customs and less licit…

My last question for Ambassador Carson would simply be what do you think we ought to be doing, both in the Senate and as a government as a whole, in terms of improving our bilateral relationship with Nigeria?

I am pleased to chair this hearing of the African Affairs Subcommittee, which will focus on Nigeria and pressing issues of security, governance, and trade.

The elections, while far from perfect, marked a dramatic improvement from the violence and lack of transparency that had marred previous Nigerian elections.

I would say this trade mission, which went to four countries, focused on the energy sector.

We know that you and U.S. Senators Durbin and Boozman, among many others, are committed to creating U.S. jobs and increasing U.S. exports to Africa.

In Delaware, where I'm from, we've had some real success in re-opening the Delaware City Refinery which was idled.