NIGERIA: DELTA STATE PURSUES PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000789 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC, CA/OCS/ACS/AF OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DELTA STATE PURSUES PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN WASTE MANAGEMENT & FORESTRY; LITTLE REGULATION ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Delta State Ministry of Environment is looking for assistance from donor agencies and private sector investment to spearhead projects such as erosion control, reforestation for timber, and waste management. The Delta State Waste Management Board, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Environment, operates 27 trucks in 17 towns throughout the state but because waste management and recycling are capital intensive, the Board is also trying to partner with the private sector. End Summary. -------------- Assistance for Ecology & Conservation -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Commissioner Lawrence Osiegbu of the Delta State Ministry of Environment admitted his Ministry has a "little bit of a problem" funding its projects and he, formerly a private businessman in Lagos, said the Ministry welcomes external assistance and investment. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for sanitation/waste management, ecology (erosion, flood control and oil spills),forestry and conservation. Osiegbu reasoned since Lagos receives assistance from the World Bank, Delta should as well. He also implied international oil companies (IOCs) such as Chevron should create conservation centers in Delta State, as they had in Lagos. ¶3. (U) Osiegbu said the Ministry's ecology department liaises with IOCs and communities affected by oil spills. He applauded Chevron's quick response and open communication with the Ministry in the event of oil spills and on other matters. -------------- Invest in Forestry & Waste Management! -------------- ¶4. (U) Osiegbu wanted to increase private sector-driven industries and find private partners to invest in reforestation for the timber industry. This would help diversify the state's economy, he argued, but he lamented that raw Nigerian products are exported to Asian markets where they are processed and standardized for American markets. Further, Osiegbu would like a waste management company to introduce composting to the state. He has identified one interested group but said lack of finances and steep operation costs of working in riverine areas was a challenge. ¶5. (U) The three-year-old Delta State Waste Management Board, which falls under the Ministry of Environment, operates 27 trucks in 17 towns. In a separate meeting with Poloffs, the Executive Chairman of the Waste Management Board said waste management and recycling are captal intensive; therefore the Board would like to partner with private sectors on "waste to wealth." The Chairman said private companies augment waste collection in the state and use designated waste and sewage dumpsites. ¶6. (SBU) However, the Board said both private citizens and private waste collectors have a "bad attitude" towards sanitation and do not comply with regulations. Citizens ignore large dumpsters placed around the city (which Poloffs noted) and private waste companies both within and outside Delta State dump in unauthorized areas. This, they argued, contributes to water borne diseases. While there are laws against dumping and penalties for offenders, the Task Force responsible for monitoring this is reportedly limited by LAGOS 00000789 002 OF 002 "financial constraints." The Board said it would like to see improved monitoring and observation by 2008. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Our meetings with both the Ministry of Environment and the Waste Management Board highlighted Delta State Government's interest in pursuing public-private partnerships and investment throughout the state. Because government enforcement and regulation is relatively light in the area of waste management, there may be an opportunity to partner with state officials to build their capacity to combat illegal dumping and public health awareness campaigns. However, at this time, the state government appears more focused on receiving donations and investment than internally-driven improvements. End Comment. ¶8. (U) This cable was cleared by Embassy Abuja. BLAIR