NIGERIA: USTDA VISIT ELICITS GON ASSISTANCE REQUESTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001082 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA AND USTDA FITTS/MARIN TREASURY FOR PETERS AND HALL DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS & 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS USDA/FAS FOR ASIF CHAUDRY, DOROTHY ADAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON EINV ENRG EAGR EAID ELTN NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: USTDA VISIT ELICITS GON ASSISTANCE REQUESTS REF: A. ABUJA 760 ¶B. ABUJA 411 ¶C. ABUJA 402 ¶1. (U) Summary: During May 5-12 meetings with U.S Trade and Development Agency (USTDA),Nigerian government (GON) officials expressed interest in USTDA providing technical assistance centered on sustainable capacity building, technical training, international standards development, guidance on essential public-private partnership frameworks, performance-based contracting/procurement, and strong requests for U.S. contractors, goods and services. End Summary ¶2. (U) From May 5-12, 2008 a USTDA team comprised of Lida Fitts and Paul Marin and accompanied by EconOffs met with Odein Ajumogobia, Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum); Chief Sarafadeen Tunji Isola, Minister of Mines & Steel Development; Hajia Fatima Balarabe Ibrahim, Minister of State for Energy (Power) (Ambassador Sanders attended these sessions); Irene Chigbue, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises; and representatives at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI),Ministry of Transportation (MT),the World Bank (WB),Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),and Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to discuss potential areas of technical assistance. Ministry of Commerce and Industry -------------- ¶3. (U) On May 6 the USTDA team and EconOffs met with Ministry of Commerce and Industry Trade Director Abikoye to discuss potential projects. The officials of the ministry highlighted current initiatives and needs of the ministry to include expanding non-oil exports for products that have export market potential; development of industrial clusters; and development of enterprise zones. The TDA team showed an interest in better understanding the non-oil export opportunities, like cassava and shea butter. Director Abikoye invited the TDA team and EconOffs to visit a pilot production plant near Abuja. The Ministry officials also highlighted the need for training in trade negotiations and upgrading of the Abuja Commodities Exchange to meet international standards. Cassava Plant - Not Yet Ripe -------------- ¶4. (U) On May 7 the USTDA team and EconOffs traveled with representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to a pilot project cassava production in Nassarawa state. The cassava production plant and adjoining 87 hectare cassava farm were created as part of the Cassava Initiative (CI),which focuses on increasing cassava production and uses, including exports. ¶5. (U) A road to the plant/farm site had not yet been built, although we were told Nassarawa state officials promised it would be complete in 2007. The team expected to visit an operating cassava plant, but upon arrival only a dog, several chickens and security guards greeted the USG visitors. There were also no electricity lines leading to the plant. EconOffs observed zero construction activity, unfinished buildings without floors, and missing roofs. There was a new electric generator and borehole for access to water. We were informed that a local manufacturer is ready to deliver the cassava processing equipment when the plant's infrastructure is complete. Despite these shortcomings CI reps explained that the plant would be up and running within three months. When the plant is running, more than three tons of cassava per day will be processed. The plant will focus on producing high-grade flour, pellets, chips and gari. ¶6. (U) The CI received 20 million naira (US$170,000.00) funding for the construction and equipping of the plant in 2006. However, the funds have been spent and there is no funding from the current GON budget for the plant's operation. When asked what will happen next, CI reps contended that funding will be found by the GON or the private sector will take over the plant. The CI reps asked the USG for assistance in completing the project. Meeting with Nigerian Stock Exchange -------------- ¶7. (U) Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) General Managers Binos Yaroe and Uzoma Onyekuru discussed the on-going USTDA-funded technical ABUJA 00001082 002 OF 002 assistance project to integrate the Ghana and Nigerian stock exchanges. Due to interest from other countries, the project will also lay groundwork for a common stock exchange market with a harmonized operation strategy for West Africa. This integrated market would include countries with or without domestic stock exchange markets, and offer a common trading platform, uniform listing rules, and consistent membership regulations. NSE had invited several countries to participate in regional planning, but is working with only Sierra Leone at this point. The report for the project, sponsored by USTDA, is expected to be complete by the end of 2008. This report will provide an assessment of the start-up capital and technical requirements and serve as a guidebook for the next phase of physical integration. Exchange officials requested USTDA's assistance in obtaining contacts at U.S. stock exchanges to learn about the procedures for demutualizing the exchange. Meeting with Civil Aviation Authorities -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Harold DeMuren, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA),sought assistance in instituting a meteorology system, improving the air traffic control system, and developing aviation human capacity. DeMuren said weather had a role in every civair accident in recent years and the Nigerian civil aviation lacks adequate weather forecasting. On air traffic control and communication, Nigeria is limited to search and recovery, not search and rescue, because it does not have the capability to locate an aircraft in time for rescue. Describing Nigeria's aviation communication system as "absolutely dead", he said the current system must move from being ground-based to satellite-based. There is an "acute shortage of skilled manpower" in the civil aviation sector, DeMuren shared. Four NCAA-trained staff members had left for more lucrative offers by private airlines and other industries. ¶9. (U) Managing Director Richard Aisuebeogun, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, made a comprehensive presentation on the state of Nigerian airports, including airports and areas direly in need of investment. Broadly speaking, investment is needed in infrastructure rehabilitation, construction and expansion; procurement of new equipment; institution of safety provisions; construction of maintenance facilities; and security and safety training. He also hopes to attract investment in the construction and management of independent power plants (IPPs) around the airports as a solution to power outages. (Note: Aiseubeogun made a similar presentation at the 6th Nigeria-China business and Investment Forum in China, and reportedly some Chinese firms indicated interest in investing in IPPs and other projects. End note) Infrastructure Projects -------------- ¶10. (U) The infrastructure request for assistance from the Ministries of Transportation, Energy, and Mines include highway planning, rail transport, rail passenger concession planning, mass transit, coal for power generation, development of solid mineral mines, gas pipeline integration planning, development of research centers for renewable energy and technical skills training for power, energy, and transportation personnel. Accompanying this assistance request is a common thread for support in how Nigeria can get American businesses and experts to come to Nigeria and to export their products and services, craft a framework for public-private partnership legislation and performance-based contracting/procurement. In addition, there are strong requests for capacity building activities to sustain and grow the infrastructure and resource sectors. ¶11. (U) COMMENT: The ministries of transportation, energy, and mines have, over the course of meetings in the last four months with econoff, consistently said that they want, trust, and prefer U.S. engineering, project management, training, goods, and services to be the anchor for the implementation of rebuilding a sustainable infrastructure. END COMMENT.) SANDERS