NIGERIA 2009 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND

UNCLAS ABUJA 001176 SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO USAID/AFR FOR ATWOOD DEPARTMENT FOR EB/OIA HGOETHERT AND KBUTLER DEPT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA TREASURY FOR DPETERS AND AIERONIMO USDOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS USDOC FOR 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINV ECON PGOV KIDE CASC OPIC NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA 2009 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND EXPROPRIATION CLAIMS REF: STATE 49477 ¶1. In response to STATE 49477, U.S. Mission reports the case of Phoenix Environmental Services Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Mr. Norton E. Jessup, an American citizen. Details of the case are included in subsequent paragraphs. --- Claimant A: Phoenix Environmental Services Nigeria Limited --- Claimant B: Mr. Norton E. Jessup, an American Citizen --- Year and Date the Dispute Arose: December 13, 2008 . Case History -------------- . ¶2. Environmental Services Nigeria Limited, a company owned by Mr. Norton E. Jessup, an American citizen, was awarded a thirty year solid waste management contract in September 2007 by the Government of Nigeria to manage solid waste in Abia State. According to Mr. Jessup, the project was expected to be a pilot project for solid waste management in Nigeria. ¶3. Jessup stated that Phoenix continued to perform its obligations of collecting waste in Abia State after a tripartite agreement was entered into between Phoenix and the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Abia State Government. According to Jessup, on December 13, 2008, agents of the Abia State Government forcefully took over the premises of Phoenix chasing away the staff, thus preventing the company from executing the solid waste management project. However, we have not yet been able to monitor or visit the actual premises of this business in Abia state to ascertain all the issues and are reporting what we have been told by Mr. Jessup. ¶4. This report was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. SANDERS