Wahab Shittu, a Lagos based lawyer said in a widely publicized article last week that beyond focus on security, war against terrorism as well as trade and economic relations, it is expected that the far reaching outcome of the visit will result in the strengthening of the US’ long lasting friendship with Nigeria. While noting that Buhari’s invitation to US was on the strength of his integrity, discipline and incorruptibility, the legal practitioner argued that the president must never allow the international goodwill to be squandered.

“The expectation is that the president’s latest visit to the US will mark a good beginning for the realisation of Nigerian’s vast potential”, Shittu wrote.

As noted by Obama, Buhari came into the office with a reputation of integrity and a clear agenda on corruption and Boko Haram insurgency including fixing the economy and infrastructure. If the president succeeds on these fundamentals, it is only then that his visit to the US can be said to be meaningful to Nigerians,” said Shittu.

Odilim Enwegbara, a developmental economist said the visit of the President to the US has the capability of helping to improve Nigeria’s economic fortunes.

According to him, as Nigeria’s economically, it is possible that the US might reconsider buying Nigeria’s oil while the new friendship can make Nigeria navigate the global economic and trade diplomacy with less difficulty.

“In particular, it will make Buhari’s efforts to recover Nigeria’s stolen hundreds of billions of dollars kept overseas by our past government officials, easy to find and repatriate,” said Enwegbara.

He added that by Nigeria to strengthen surveillance of the Gulf of Guinea, the US can help to drastically reduce the stealing of Nigeria’s oil by international thieves. In the same vein, he added that the re-energised US- Nigeria relationship has confirmed Nigeria’s status in today’s world as a serious investment destination among others.

“No doubt Obama’s public confirmation of Buhari’s impeccable integrity and honest leadership is a big deal for Nigeria, a country whose leaders have always been seen by the whole world to have penchant for corruption. What this message sends out to foreign investors and governments wanting to deal with Nigeria is that finally the corruption zero-tolerant Nigeria is now welcoming them with the full assurance that no longer should they be afraid of the safety of their investments in Nigeria because of its past corrupt and weak system, lacking credibility in the rule of law,” Enwegbara said.