NIGERIA: LIBERTAD ACT AND CUBA REVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001019 SIPDIS WHA/CCA DMCFARLAND E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2018 TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: LIBERTAD ACT AND CUBA REVIEW REF: STATE 52541 Classified By: Economic Counselor Robert Tansey for reasons 1.4 (B & D) ¶1. (U) In response to reftel action request, please find the following Mission Nigeria answers regarding Nigeria and Cuba's relationship. ¶2. (C) The Nigerian government (GON) does not appear to have made public statements or undertaken other governmental actions, such as resolutions in the national assemblies condemning human rights abuses in Cuba, or to have made efforts to promote the advancement of democracy there. ¶3. (C) There have been high-level diplomatic visits between Cuba and Nigeria in the past six months. A delegation from the Nigerian Energy Commission visited Cuba in early 2008 to discuss cooperation in electricity generation and improving the energy efficiency of household appliances. In addition, in February the Cuban Minister of Health visited Nigeria. ¶4. (C) Three Nigerian states - Jigawa, Kaduna and Ekiti have or are in discussions with Cuban officials on cooperative investment agreements, including a joint venture to manufacture syringes. ¶5. (C) There are scholarships for Nigerian students to study medicine in Cuba. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),90 Nigerian students graduated from Cuban medical schools in 2007 and another 20 Nigerian are enrolled. The MFA is not aware of Cuban doctors working in Nigeria and Cuba does not support Nigerians for medical treatment in Cuba. ¶6. (C) Cuba and Nigeria agreed to a bilateral trade agreement in 2000. Our contacts claim that the agreement has not led to increases in trade between the two countries; however, both governments are planning to set up a joint committee to focus on strategies to boost trade. Mission contacts are not aware of any Nigerian investments in Cuba. SANDERS