IMF head arrives in Nigeria for first Africa visit

IMF head Christine Lagarde arrived in Nigeria on Sunday for her first visit to Africa as head of the fund, a spokesman said, with the trip also to take her to the neighbouring nation of Niger. "IMF MD Christine Lagarde arrived in Nigeria today," the International Monetary Fund spokesman said of the crisis lender's managing director. Lagarde is to hold talks with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on Monday as well as with Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a respected former World Bank managing director. She is expected in the economic capital Lagos on Tuesday for a forum on Africa's future before moving on to Niger. Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and the continent's largest oil producer, but it has long been held back by corruption and mismanagement. Her trip is expected to focus on issues such as addressing youth unemployment in Africa, the world's fastest-growing continent, as well as potential fallout from the European debt crisis. Many African nations rely heavily upon European investment and trade.