ABUJA, Nigeria — Prime Minister Jean Chretien is feeling relaxed and amiable as he cruises into his final week in office contemplating three job offers and a future of lucrative American speaking engagements.

In fact, he's so relaxed that the 69-year-old prime minister joined a group of Canadian media at poolside this week for a late-night chat over a beer on the eve of the Commonwealth heads of government meeting.

"I have no problem with the media, although the media have had a few problems with me," Chretien joked as he settled into a plastic chair Thursday evening outside the Protea Hotel.

In the following hour of free-ranging discussion, the prime minister riffed on re-entry into private life, mused about humorous political stunts and boasted about his lifelong love of sports.

And it was perhaps no coincidence that his easy rapport with the media came on the same day he publicly told African business leaders that their countries must have more transparent, democratic governments if they want to attract foreign investment.

Chretien later appeared to be leading by example.

During his impromptu visit to the media hotel, he casually told reporters and a few personal staff that he's whittled his post-politics career down to a menu of three unspecified job offers but won't announce a decision until after he leaves office next Thursday.

He is preparing to go on speaking engagements in the United States for "lots of money" -- he wouldn't say how much, calling it a state secret -- but will limit his Canadian appearances because he doesn't want to appear to be meddling in domestic affairs. He'll return to Africa to speak for free, if asked, and suggested he has one such engagement lined up already.

Heavily armed Nigerian police in black watched the curious prime ministerial gathering with interest before settling back into their own conversations.

A couple of rats scurried through the shadows of the pool deck, where earlier in the day half-metre-long chameleons had strutted under the equatorial sun.

Chretien took a long pull on a warm bottle of Guinness -- 7.5 per cent alcohol -- and made a sour face.

Leaving political life after 10 years in office and 40 years as an MP is posing some interesting problems, not least of which is mobility.

Chretien said he hasn't driven in 12 years and had to go and renew his driver's licence.

The inspector for the test was so nervous he was literally shaking, said Chretien, but that didn't stop him from making three corrections to the chief's driving.

"You'd think I'd get a break -- I'm only the prime minister," Chretien joked, although he did pass the test.

He noted his wife, Aline, has bought a new vehicle -- a Jeep Liberty, Chretien added with some amusement.

Their belongings at 24 Sussex Drive, meanwhile, have already all been moved out and the Chretiens had to downsize for life in an Ottawa condo, he said.

The prime minister took great pleasure in recounting his trip to a Group of Seven meeting in Birmingham, England, where he and then U.S. president Bill Clinton slipped out a back door for a private walk without security. When they returned by the front door, Secret Service agents were ashen.

Chretien had suggested they hop a wall and "the big guy had to get a boost," the prime minister guffawed. He boasted he was in pretty good shape for a guy more than 10 years Clinton's senior, and added he has played just about every sport imaginable -- other than polo and cricket.

Chretien also said he wants to write a book, but not right away because he would like to write about "personalities" and that's difficult when they are still active in public life.

Finally, the retiring prime minister rose from his chair and bid the group goodnight.

"It's a good thing you gave me a beer I don't like," he said, leaving the bottle half empty on a table.