Nairobi/Abuja  - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was due Wednesday to meet Nigerian President Umara Yar'adau in Abuja for talks centrig on corruption and electoral reform - on the fifth leg of her African tour.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and also its largest oil producer, but it faces a raft of problems - rampant corruption, bad governance and conflict in the oil-producing Niger Delta the most prominent.

Despite the fact that the US gets just under ten per cent of its oil from Nigeria, Clinton was expected to take a tough line on corruption and poor governance in what US officials call "the most important country in sub-Saharan Africa."

"Despite our close relationship, Nigeria faces a number of major challenges: conflict in the delta ... tensions that frequently flare up between Muslims and Christians in the northern part of the country ... It also faces challenges with respect to corruption," Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said.

Nigeria is considered one of Africa's most corrupt states, with graft permeating every level of politics, business and society.

Corruption has helped keep the conflict in the Niger Delta alive as governors and other officials cream off money supposed to develop the region and address the grievances of communities who say they have lost their livelihoods due to the oil industry.

Analysts say the fight to peg back graft has lost momentum under Yar'Adua. Nuhu Ribadu, a prominent anti-corruption Tsar who gained international respect, was forced out of office shortly after Yar'Adua came to power.

"We all know what corruption can do to public confidence, to the confidence of citizens in their government, and also to destroying the budget and the fabric of governmental operations," Carson said.

The secretary will attend an evening forum with representative of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on good governance and transparency.

Clinton was also expected to push Yar'Adua on electoral reforms that are supposed to avoid a repeat of 2007's farcical elections, which observers say were characterized by voter intimidation and ballot-stuffing.

She was also expected to seek an update on the status of the conflict in the Niger Delta, where attacks by militant groups have slashed oil production.

A 60-day amnesty is in force to allow the militants to give up their arms in return for a pardon and employment, but it is not yet clear how successful the scheme will be.

Also on the agenda is inter-faith violence in the predominantly Muslim north of the country.

More than 700 people died in northern Nigeria in July when a radical Islamist sect attacked police stations. Previous clashes between Christians and Muslims have claimed the lives of hundreds more.

Clinton was due to attend an inter-faith roundtable before meeting Yar'Adua.

The top US diplomat is touring Africa to highlight the Obama administration's commitment to the continent, build trade links and promote better governance.

After Nigeria, Clinton is expected to visit Liberia and Cape Verde before returning to Washington on Friday. She has already travelled to Kenya, South Africa, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. (dpa)