In an Oval Office meeting with Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua, President George W. Bush offered to double the United States’ commitment to help Nigeria fight HIV/AIDS and malaria, AFP News reports (news.yahoo.com, 12/13).

The article quotes Bush as having told Yar’Adua that “we believe it’s in our interests to help you if you so desire.” Bush added, “It’s in our interests from a security perspective; it’s in our interests from a moral perspective.”

AFP also notes that the United States is Nigeria’s chief trading partner and that Nigeria is the fifth largest exporter of petroleum to the US.