Sao Tome PM hails Nigeria's elections

The prime minister of Sao Tome and Principe, Patrice Emery Trouoada, has described Nigeria's April general elections as a good example for Africa.

Trouada made his opinion known to reporters in Abuja on Friday after a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.

He congratulated the Nigerian leader and Nigerians for conducting fair and transparent elections.

"I came to congratulate the president and the people of Nigeria for the fair and transparent elections which is a good example for Africa," he added.

"We believe that Nigeria has a leadership position in our region and our continent, so it is very good that we have been able to witness fair elections," he said.

Trouoada said he had a fruitful discussion with Jonathan on the situations in troubled African countries like Libya and Cote d'Ivoire.

The prime minister stressed the need for the reform of the UN Security Council to enable Africa to voice its views on matters affecting the continent and the world.

"We believe that we should work to reform the security council of the United Nations because Africa needs to have influential voice in mainly the matters of Africa's future," he added.

Trouada, who also briefed Jonathan on the situation in his country, disclosed that his administration had embarked on various economic reforms meant to attract Nigerian investors.

"You know we just released the result of the bidding rounds in the economic zone of Sao Tome," Trouoada told reporters, noting that Oando, a Nigerian company, won the bid.

"So we believe we should pursue our bilateral cooperation, private-to-private sector and government-to-government as well," the premier said.

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