Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUJA658
2006-03-23 16:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

MARCH 23 NIGERIA AVIAN FLU UPDATE -- WORLD BANK

Tags:  TBIO KFLU EAID AMED EAGR NI AVIANFLU 
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UNCLAS ABUJA 000658 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/OA, FAS/DLP, FAS/ICD AND FAS/ITP
USDA ALSO FOR APHIS
USAID REGIONAL HUB OFFICE ACCRA
CHERYL FRENCH APHIS DAKAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID AMED EAGR NI AVIANFLU
SUBJECT: MARCH 23 NIGERIA AVIAN FLU UPDATE -- WORLD BANK

REF: ABUJA 656

UNCLAS ABUJA 000658

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

USDA FOR FAS/OA, FAS/DLP, FAS/ICD AND FAS/ITP
USDA ALSO FOR APHIS
USAID REGIONAL HUB OFFICE ACCRA
CHERYL FRENCH APHIS DAKAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID AMED EAGR NI AVIANFLU
SUBJECT: MARCH 23 NIGERIA AVIAN FLU UPDATE -- WORLD BANK

REF: ABUJA 656


1. (SBU) Summary. The DCM and World Bank officials on March
22 discussed the GON's sluggishness in employing already
provided foreign assistance against AI. The Bank officials
said their main concerns are the need to vaccinate birds and
compensate poultry farmers. The GON discussed with the Bank
the possibility of Nigeria's beginning bird vaccinations.
The Bank officials said to avoid corruption in compensation,
most of this assistance should take the form of community-
assistance projects. The Bank's representative said there
was no shortage of AI money for Nigeria but that the GON was
not able to use it. End summary.

World Bank concerns on GON's nonuse of assistance
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and Economic
Officer met March 22 with Hafez Ghanem, the World Bank's
representative in Nigeria, and Simeon Ehui, the bank's lead
economist for Nigeria. They discussed the Government of
Nigeria's (GON) sluggishness in employing already provided
foreign assistance against the avian influenza (AI) --
including Nigeria's still-untapped USD 12.2 million line of
credit with the World Bank.


3. (SBU) The DCM detailed the U.S. Mission's continuing
coordination with foreign donors on AI assistance and
strategy, including regular meetings at the UN Development
Program in Abuja. He said although the GON had a plan for
combating AI, Nigeria had not been very effective in
implementing it. Ghanem said he met with USAID/Nigeria on
March 20 to ensure there was no duplication in anti-AI
purchases or equipment provided to Nigeria, and to discuss
the untapped line of credit.


4. (SBU) Ghanem said Nigeria's livestock and agricultural
officials were working poorly together, and that the World
Bank's two main concerns are the need to vaccinate birds and
compensate poultry farmers. Ehui said that during talks
with the GON on an anti-AI "work plan" the Bank would
finance, Nigerian officials discussed the possibility of
beginning bird vaccinations. Nigeria might do so at
commercial poultry farms or might use ring vaccinations in
"hot areas."


5. (SBU) The World Bank officials discussed compensation and
what form this should take. They expressed serious concern
over compensation's potential for corruption and said the
Bank instead might push a combination of cash and community-
assistance projects, or "community-driven development," in
the work plan. The development projects should be
administered by the states, local government areas, and non-
government organizations.


6. (SBU) The Bank officials said they are seeking a meeting
by March 24 with senior GON figures on the issues of bird
inoculations and compensation to poultry farmers. Ghanem
said the USG and UN agencies must push and assist the GON to
combat AI effectively. He declared the World Bank and
donors would not have difficulty coming up with funds for
Nigeria -- but that the problem rather is the GON's
inability to use this money.
CAMPBELL