NIGERIA: BI-WEEKLY POL/ECON UPDATES FOR SEPTEMBER 1-15,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001950 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA DOE FOR GPERSON, CHAYLOCK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON EPET MOPS KTIP NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: BI-WEEKLY POL/ECON UPDATES FOR SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2008 ¶1. (U) The following is a joint Embassy Abuja/ConGen Lagos compilation of September 1-15 political/economic highlights, which did not feature in our other reporting, covering: --Economic and Business --Trafficking in Persons --National Assembly --Oil and Gas --Southern Politics -------------- ECONOMIC & BUSINESS NEWS -------------- ¶2. (U) NIGERIA'S DEBT: Nigeria's external debt stands at $3.7 billion, which is about four percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product. Head of the Debt Management Office (DMO) explained to the press that the figure is remarkable compared to 60 percent of the country's GDP before debt relief. The DMO stated further that Nigeria's decision to access $500 million from the international capital market will open strategic windows to mobilize resources under favorable terms and conditions to keep sustainable economic growth. ¶3. (U) SEC COMMITTEES TO REVIEW CAPITAL MARKET STRUCTURE: The Committee on the Review of Corporate Governance for Public Companies and the Committee for the Review of Capital Market Structure and Processes were inaugurated on September 15 by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Abuja. A.B. Mahmoud chairs the panel on Corporate Governance whose purpose is to review the Nigerian Corporate Governance Code for Public Companies and identify obstacles to good corporate governance in public companies. Dotun Sulaiman heads the committee for the Review of the Capital Market Structure and Processes, which identifies the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of the Nigerian capital market. The panel will review the present market structures, processes, as well as regulatory and institutional frameworks. It will also make recommendations for the improvement of the operational efficiency and transparency of the market, and suggest amendments to existing laws. ¶4. (U) NIGERIA AND EU SIGN N17.4 BILLION ($148 MIL) AGREEMENT ON NIGER DELTA: The EU signed a $148 million agreement with the GON on September 11 to execute three governance projects in the Niger Delta. The first is aimed at reducing rural and sub-urban poverty, strengthening community governance and providing basic infrastructure to improve service delivery in the region. The second is aimed at strengthening non state actors' capacity to work toward achieving poverty reduction and bolstering democratic processes. The third project will focus on good governance at the state level through efficient and transparent management of public finances to ensure improved service delivery. -------------- Trafficking in Persons (TIP) -------------- ¶5. (U) On September 4, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP),under the auspices of the American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative, commissioned the TIP database, VSAT and solar power project. This project began over two years ago and has finally reached completion. The database is connected by VSAT to all NAPTIP zonal offices, and the solar powered main server provides 24 hour access and greater operational capacity, despite frequent power outages. The database will allow law enforcement and civil society across the country to collect and collate data in an effective and efficient manner that will track both criminals and victims, enhancing both prosecution and protection. Additionally, the collection of such data will, in time, provide a detailed assessment of the complexity of the problem of trafficking in persons in Nigeria. ¶6. (U) On September 10, NAPTIP announced the arrest of 60 Nigerians in eight European countries for human trafficking. In coordination with international agencies, NAPTIP co-organized Operation Koovis, which was carried out in Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, and Britain, where offenders are currently facing prosecution. ¶7. (U) Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola signed the Child Rights Act into law on September 11. Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello, said the law will protect children and other vulnerable groups, including women, from abuse. (Note: Osun State is only the 17th of 36 states to pass the Act into law. End ABUJA 00001950 002 OF 003 note.) -------------- National Assembly Resumes -------------- ¶8. (U) The National Assembly has reconvened following their annual six-week recess. The Daily Trust reported on September 8 that, according to officers of the House of Representatives, the priorities of both chambers are a review of the constitution and the 2008 budget bill. In addition, This Day reported on September 11 that the House commenced deliberations on a bill that seeks to decentralize the awarding of contracts by ministries and government agencies as well as the issuance of due process certificates. Local press also reported that Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole, said the House would soon inaugurate a committee to monitor the activities of the non-governmental organizations - tracking funds from donors to ensue that such funds are use for their intended purpose. ¶9. (U) According to the Daily Trust, Speaker Bankole met the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) Chairman, former Chief Justice of Nigeria Muhammad Uwais, on September 11. Uwais said the ERC is trying to acquaint lawmakers with their work and asking for support. During the meeting with the Speaker, Uwais reportedly added that the National Assembly "is going to set up a committee that is going to look at the possible amendment to the constitution and since our work is likely to touch on that, we thought we should bring to your notice that we too might make some recommendations that would involve, apart from amendment to the Electoral Act, also an amendment to the constitution." ¶10. (U) Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media told journalists on September 10 that the Senate would ensure passage of the Freedom of Information Bill within the next three weeks. The bill has generated heated debate, particularly on the floor of the House, about the level of responsibility and professionalism exhibited by the Nigerian press, the motives of politicians, as well as progress (or lack thereof) in the war on corruption. -------------- Oil and Gas -------------- ¶11. (U) On September 3, South African energy company Sasol announced it was reducing its stake in a gas-to-liquids facility being built in Escravos, Delta State. Majority partner Chevron agreed to buy part of Sasol's equity in the joint venture, reducing Sasol's participation from 37.5% to 10.0%. In May, Sasol had announced it was reviewing its participation in the plant due to repeated delays and soaring project costs. The plant, which uses Sasol patented technology to turn natural gas into diesel and naptha, is scheduled to be completed in 2011 at a cost of $6 billion. -------------- -------------- Southern Politics: MASSOB Strike Ignored, No Bail -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) A call by the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) for an August 28 stay-at-home protest was widely ignored in the predominantly Igbo Southeastern states which once formed part of the former secessionist state of Biafra. MASSOB called the strike to protest what it considers the continued Nigerianization of Biafrans and to draw attention to what it describes as continued British involvement in Nigerian-sponsored genocide in the region. News accounts stated businesses and markets were open as usual, with few exceptions. ¶13. (U) Also August 28, a judge in Ebonyi State denied a bail request for MASSOB members arrested during a Biafran commemorative march in Anambra State in May, who are currently facing federal charges of treason. The case was adjourned until September 30. ¶14. (SBU) More than fifty-five members of the Oodua People's Congress (OPC) were arrested September 3 after an August 28 clash with members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in which eight people, including two policemen, were killed. An ABUJA 00001950 003 OF 003 Ibadan-based lawyer, told PolSpec on September 12 that the clash erupted when Lagos-based OPC members, driving through Ibadan to Osogbo to attend the annual Osun-Osogbo festival, encountered a makeshift road block manned by NURTW members, who insisted that the OPC vehicles had to pay a toll. ¶15. (U) Former Governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, and two former aides were granted bail a week after having been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of corruption and theft totaling 6.5 billion naira (USD 55.5 million) during Ladoja's tenure. The 33 counts against Ladoja, godson of the recently-deceased Ibadan godfather Lamidi Adedibu, include conspiracy to defraud the state government, abuse of office, and stealing. The court date for the initial hearing has been set for October 20. ¶16. (U) A September 2 meeting of the Ogun State People's Democratic Party (PDP) intended to resolve a power struggle between the state's three zones may have exacerbated tensions. Former President Obasanjo and Governor Gbenga Daniel differed over the allocation of positions within the state government among the three zones. Because the state party was unable to reach a resolution, the National Working Committee of the PDP will take up the question at its next working meeting. Piascik