REP. JEFFERSON'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OBASANJO,

UNCLAS ABUJA 000277

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO PASS TO USTR FOR PATRICK COLEMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD NI
SUBJECT: REP. JEFFERSON'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT OBASANJO,
AGREMENT FOR CAMPBELL

REF: 03 ABUJA 2231 AND ABUJA FAX 12/16/03 TO USTR AND

AF/W


1. President Obasanjo told visiting Congressman Jefferson,
Charge Anyaso and notetakers February 16 that Nigeria has
provided all necessary documents and legislation to the USG
for the AGOA textiles visa (reftel and ref faxes),and
considers the ball to be in the USG court. Obasanjo agreed
with Jefferson that Nigeria needed to work on exporting more
processed agricultural goods such as tomatoes and fruits, to
make more use of what is already available under AGOA, and
will work on exporting software and footwear as well.
Jefferson suggested industrial starch, which could be made
from Nigeria's cassavas.


2. At the end of the meeting, Obasanjo told the CDA that he
had signed the agrement for John Campbell to become the U.S.
Ambassador to Nigeria. (Note: Post received the paperwork
and faxed it to the Department on February 17. End Note.)


3. Rep. Jefferson, on a private visit to Nigeria, said he
was interested in the Gulf of Guinea Initiative, which
President Obasanjo co-chairs. Obasanjo said he had just been
speaking with Gabon's President Bongo, and expected to visit
Bongo by the end of March. Ghana wanted to join the
Initiative, and Nigeria would not object to Ghana and even
Senegal becoming members. The purpose, Obasanjo said, was to
preserve peace and "stability of resources."


4. Rep. Jefferson suggested to President Obasanjo that U.S.
firms were interested in investing to build fertilizer plants
in Nigeria if the GON could provide no-cost or low-cost
liquefied natural gas (LNG) until the U.S. firms recouped the
cost of building the factories. Obasanjo said he was
interested, and asked Jefferson to send him a paper on such a
proposal. Obasanjo also said he would consider an offer by
the Black Caucus Foundation to be their guest of honor at a
conference in September if it was near enough to Obasanjo's
planned visit to the U.S. for the UN General Assembly.
ROBERTS