NIGERIA: WTO BIOTECH PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EFFORTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000250

SIPDIS


STATE FOR EB/EPPD/PD AND AF/PD
STATE PASS USTR FOR PADILLA
STATE PLEASE PASS DEPT OF AGRICULTURE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2013
TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO KPAO
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WTO BIOTECH PUBLIC DIPLOMACY EFFORTS


REF: SECSTATE 21881


CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER.
REASON: 1.5 B & D.



1. (U) The GON and the Nigerian public are split on the issue
of biotechnology. Senior GON officials and farmers recognize
that biotechnology promises improved agricultural
productivity. President Obasanjo has said, "I am convinced
that the only reliable way forward for rapid biotechnological
development in the country is a close and sustained
collaboration among government, researchers and industry."
Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mallam
Adamu Bello said, "I'm not a scientist, but from information
available to me, it appears clear that modern biotechnology
holds high promise."



2. (U) However, many agricultural experts in both the private
and public sectors have close professional connections to
Europe and are sympathetic to European opinions. This is
particularly true of Nigeria's limited agricultural export
sector, which exports mainly to Europe (though sometimes
through third countries--such as India--where processing
takes place) and could face the dilemma of having to chose
between biotechnology and continued access to European
markets.



3. (C) In Nigeria, biotechnology is not generally viewed as a
tool used by the developed world to keep developing countries
impoverished. However, the WTO is often perceived in that
light and is publicly criticized as an arm of the developed
world. The Embassy, therefore, recommends that any
biotechnology outreach initiative focus on the positive
impact that biotechnology could have in Nigeria. The outreach
should not focus primarily on the WTO case against Europe.
Such a focus might obfuscate the issue by causing Nigerians
to believe that support for biotechnology and WTO are one in
the same, and such belief would not advance our interests.



4. (U) The Embassy's ongoing efforts in support of
biotechnology include a proposed U.S. press tour for Nigerian
journalists who cover biotechnology issues and a
comprehensive USAID proposal to support GON biotech efforts
through a Nigeria Agriculture Biotechnology Program. In 2002,
a large delegation from Iowa, led by the Governor, visited
Nigeria and extensively discussed biotechnology issues. The
University of Iowa expressed interest in doing work here, but
there has been little follow-up. Monsanto has also been a
frequent visitor to Nigeria.


Background on Biotechnology in Nigeria
--------------

5. (U) The GON national policy on biotechnology states:
"Nigeria should, as a priority, initiate appropriate steps to
explore the use of biotechnology for the benefit of Nigerians
and furthermore, ensure that Nigeria becomes a key
participant in the international biotechnology enterprise
within a decade. This will be pursued through the provision
of an enabling environment that responds to the needs of the
biotech industry, the research and development communities as
well as relevant national and international biotech concerns."



6. (U) In early 2002, the Federal Executive Council (Cabinet)
approved bio-safety guidelines that name the National
Bio-Safety Committee (NBC) as the nationally competent
authority for approving applications for the development,
importation, testing, release and/or commercialization of
GMOs or their products. The Ministry of Environment is
responsible for developing the guidelines under which the NBC
would approve an application, while the Ministry of Science
and Technology would be responsible for implementing those
guidelines.



7. (U) On the research side, the Ministry of Science and
Technology oversees the National Biotechnology Development
Agency (NBDA),a government agency responsible for
coordinating all biotechnology activities in Nigeria. NBDA
had a 2002 budget of approximately N167 million (about $1.3
million). The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
and the Ministry of Environment also play key roles in
biotechnology research. In addition, the GON established an
advanced biotechnology laboratory within the Sheda Science
Complex (SHESTCO) near Abuja in 2002.



8. (U) Comment: The positive actions and statements by the
GON hold promise for the development of a national capacity
in biotechnology that can spur growth in the agricultural
sector. However, constraints include the realities of
Nigeria's current (primarily European) export markets,
institutional and bureaucratic conflict, lack of scientific
capacity, and a need to dispel myths related to genetically
engineered foods. End Comment.
JETER