CHINA PROVIDES WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

UNCLAS ABUJA 002051 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SENV EAID CH NI SUBJECT: CHINA PROVIDES WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIA ¶1. The Chinese government is to provide 598 boreholes in 18 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The leader of a team of Chinese engineers, Mr. Dai Genbao, said that his team is currently conducting reconnaissance in the states as a prelude to the commencement of the water project. The project came about following a recent visit to China by the Nigerian Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Muktari Shagari. Shagari, who is prone to exaggeration, said 60 percent of Nigeria's population currently has access to potable water, but the GON is committed to increasing that to 80 percent by 2007. ¶2. The boreholes are to be located in Benue, Kogi, Niger, Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Rivers States. In the FCT, the boreholes will be located in Abaji, Bwara, Gwagwalada, and Kuje. ¶3. Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) spends from 5000 to 20000 USD per borehole it commissions as part of its Humanitarian Action projects. Assuming the costs to the Chinese project will be similar, the value of this aid ranges from 3 to 12 million USD. By way of comparison, ODC has a proposal to fund for 20-30 boreholes and the Ambassadors' Special Self-Help program is funding an additional 20. ¶4. Comment: This project, another in a series of steps to strengthen Nigerian-Chinese relations, has the potential to build a significant amount of goodwill among the Nigerian populace toward China. Multiple contacts from within the GON and international donor community have commented that while much American aid comes with preconditions, such as respect for human rights, the Chinese attach no such strings to their assistance. End comment. CAMPBELL