Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Monday welcome the interest showed by the United States on the nation's power sector, saying his administration has the political will to support investors and create an enabling environment for investment.

Jonathan who spoke at the Presidential Villa when he had an audience with a USA trade delegation, led by Mr. William Fitzgerald, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, said, “I am pleased you are interested in the power sector, and assure you that government has the political will to support all investors in Nigeria.”

President Jonathan said efforts to make business easier in the country had led to the reduction of the time required to clear goods at Nigerian ports from two months to seven days, adding that a target of 48 hours would be attained soon.

He stated that the nation’s “power sector is a challenge and an opportunity for us as a people”.

He observed that the country faced a challenge in terms of power generation, transmission and distribution.

Government, he noted, was committed to power sector reform, because investment in the sector would open massive opportunities for the youth, enable the small and medium enterprises to flourish, create jobs and change the life pattern of the people.

“Power is quite significant, it is a critical turning point for development. We welcome your interest, and need United States’ support to extend our power generation, transmission and distribution”, he said. Earlier, Mr. William Fitzgerald, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, commended the Jonathan Administration’s focus on the power sector.

“Nigeria’s roadmap to power supply is interesting and the United States strongly supports it,” he said, adding that “the momentum is building up” towards sufficient power supply in Nigeria.

He said the delegation included large companies such as General Electric and Chevron, to show the seriousness of the mission.