Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUJA165
2010-02-12 19:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- FEBRUARY 12, 2010
how-toVZCZCXRO2962 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0165/01 0431931 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121916Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0274 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS IMMEDIATE RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE 0083
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000165
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI KCRM KPAO EAGR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- FEBRUARY 12, 2010
CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy
Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000165
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI KCRM KPAO EAGR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- FEBRUARY 12, 2010
CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy
Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (U) Mission Nigeria provides the following compilation of recent
political, economic, and social developments not previously
reported.
-------------- ---
WESTERN NAVY COMMAND CONTENT WITH CIVILIAN RULE
-------------- ---
2. (C) U.S. Navy Frigate "Samuel B. Roberts" arrived in Lagos
November 11 for week-long training exercises with the Nigerian Navy
as part of the Africa Partnership Station (APS). Nigerian Western
Navy Command Chief of Operations Rear Admiral James Oluwole told
PolMilOff that a poll of Nigerian Navy (NN) sailors would show that
"eighty percent" of them have absolutely no desire for a return to
military rule. He stated that he saw no threat of a coup from
within the Navy, and he believed that Chief of Defense Staff Air
Marshal Dike and Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General
Dambazau had done an effective job at containing any potential
threat from the Army. He praised their quick actions in imposing
barracks restrictions and telling subordinates that a coup did not
serve the interests of the military or Nigeria. Oluwole lamented
that the Nigerian Government (GON) undervalued the Nigerian Navy,
despite "substantial maritime threats against Nigeria's oil
industry," including piracy and Niger Delta militancy. He asked
the USG to assist in building NN riverine capability and complained
that the Army sought to do the same. When asked about U.S. Africa
Command, Oluwole said he understood its intent and believed
increased engagement would benefit NN capacity and readiness.
--------------
NEW TENSIONS IN JOS
--------------
3. (SBU) Authorities stepped up security in Jos, the capital of
Plateau State, following a clash the week of February 8 between a
group of Fulani herdsmen and locals. Fifteen people reportedly
died during the fighting, according to press reports. In mid
January, over 300 people perished and an estimated 30,000 persons
suffered displacement after days of communal violence in the city.
News of this latest fighting sent residents scrambling for safety,
afraid that a full-scale crisis would resume. Though details of
this latest occurrence remain sketchy, authorities increased the
number military and police in Jose to enforce the 6:00 p.m. to 6:00
a.m. daily curfew. The Conflict Mitigation and Management Regional
Councils established by USAID-Nigeria continued to conduct advocacy
visits to regional leaders and to develop a plan to address
fundamental issues that contributed to violence.
--------------
VICTIMS OF JOS CRISIS STILL IN DIRE STRAITS
--------------
4. (C) According to an International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) official, 6,900 internally displaced persons remained in
camps in Jos. Neighboring Bauchi State, to the north of Plateau
State, now holds 8,900 persons who fled the Jos violence and who
are now expected to resettle outside Plateau State. ICRC officials
struggled to provide food and water to these individuals, many of
whom fled their homes 26 days ago and remain too afraid to return.
As of February 10, authorities held 208 suspects in Abuja, down
from over 300 arrested during the violence, releasing the
remainder. Civil society aid groups have supplied food, water, and
ABUJA 00000165 002 OF 002
medical attention to these suspects.
5. (C) Plateau State Governor Jang claimed to PolCouns and PolOff
February 8 that authorities in Abuja had intentionally moved
suspects from Jos to Abuja, just as they had done after the
November 2008 riots, to keep them immune from prosecution and to
prevent police based in Jos from conducting thorough
investigations. He alleged that such investigations would have
revealed that certain senior officials in Abuja, possibly including
National Security Advisor Abdul Sarki Mukhtar, had instigated the
violence. He discounted Nigeria Police Force claims that
overcrowding in Jos detention centers had forced police to transfer
the prisoners.
--------------
NEW VIOLENCE HITS GOMBE STATE
--------------
6. (SBU) Two communal clashes occurred in Gombe State on February
10, leaving 80 people injured and 400 displaced, according to an
ICRC contact. Displaced persons, he said, required immediate
relocation to a camp. The clash continued a feud between two
village groups that erupted two years ago. Red Cross volunteers
have provided food for the camp and first aid and medical care to
the injured. This newest violence reportedly did not have links to
religious groups or communal violence in Jos.
-------------- --------------
NIGERIA BECOMES LARGEST SUB-SAHARA IMPORTER OF U.S. RICE
-------------- --------------
7. (U) During the past year, Nigeria has become the largest
importer of U.S. rice in Sub-Saharan Africa, with imports and
purchases climbing to 40,000 tons, with an estimated value of 25
million dollars. This figure represents the highest amount in 25
years. In the process, Nigeria has surpassed nearby Ghana as the
largest buyer of U.S. rice in Sub-Saharan Africa and has become the
largest export market worldwide for U.S. long-grain, brown rice.
While Thai rice exports continued to dominate the Nigerian market,
a reduction in duties on milled and brown rice (from 109 percent to
30 percent and 5 percent, respectively) and competitive pricing
have allowed U.S. rice to re-enter the Nigerian market.
8. (U) Embassy Abuja and ConGen Lagos collaborated on this
telegram.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI KCRM KPAO EAGR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- FEBRUARY 12, 2010
CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy
Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (U) Mission Nigeria provides the following compilation of recent
political, economic, and social developments not previously
reported.
-------------- ---
WESTERN NAVY COMMAND CONTENT WITH CIVILIAN RULE
-------------- ---
2. (C) U.S. Navy Frigate "Samuel B. Roberts" arrived in Lagos
November 11 for week-long training exercises with the Nigerian Navy
as part of the Africa Partnership Station (APS). Nigerian Western
Navy Command Chief of Operations Rear Admiral James Oluwole told
PolMilOff that a poll of Nigerian Navy (NN) sailors would show that
"eighty percent" of them have absolutely no desire for a return to
military rule. He stated that he saw no threat of a coup from
within the Navy, and he believed that Chief of Defense Staff Air
Marshal Dike and Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General
Dambazau had done an effective job at containing any potential
threat from the Army. He praised their quick actions in imposing
barracks restrictions and telling subordinates that a coup did not
serve the interests of the military or Nigeria. Oluwole lamented
that the Nigerian Government (GON) undervalued the Nigerian Navy,
despite "substantial maritime threats against Nigeria's oil
industry," including piracy and Niger Delta militancy. He asked
the USG to assist in building NN riverine capability and complained
that the Army sought to do the same. When asked about U.S. Africa
Command, Oluwole said he understood its intent and believed
increased engagement would benefit NN capacity and readiness.
--------------
NEW TENSIONS IN JOS
--------------
3. (SBU) Authorities stepped up security in Jos, the capital of
Plateau State, following a clash the week of February 8 between a
group of Fulani herdsmen and locals. Fifteen people reportedly
died during the fighting, according to press reports. In mid
January, over 300 people perished and an estimated 30,000 persons
suffered displacement after days of communal violence in the city.
News of this latest fighting sent residents scrambling for safety,
afraid that a full-scale crisis would resume. Though details of
this latest occurrence remain sketchy, authorities increased the
number military and police in Jose to enforce the 6:00 p.m. to 6:00
a.m. daily curfew. The Conflict Mitigation and Management Regional
Councils established by USAID-Nigeria continued to conduct advocacy
visits to regional leaders and to develop a plan to address
fundamental issues that contributed to violence.
--------------
VICTIMS OF JOS CRISIS STILL IN DIRE STRAITS
--------------
4. (C) According to an International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) official, 6,900 internally displaced persons remained in
camps in Jos. Neighboring Bauchi State, to the north of Plateau
State, now holds 8,900 persons who fled the Jos violence and who
are now expected to resettle outside Plateau State. ICRC officials
struggled to provide food and water to these individuals, many of
whom fled their homes 26 days ago and remain too afraid to return.
As of February 10, authorities held 208 suspects in Abuja, down
from over 300 arrested during the violence, releasing the
remainder. Civil society aid groups have supplied food, water, and
ABUJA 00000165 002 OF 002
medical attention to these suspects.
5. (C) Plateau State Governor Jang claimed to PolCouns and PolOff
February 8 that authorities in Abuja had intentionally moved
suspects from Jos to Abuja, just as they had done after the
November 2008 riots, to keep them immune from prosecution and to
prevent police based in Jos from conducting thorough
investigations. He alleged that such investigations would have
revealed that certain senior officials in Abuja, possibly including
National Security Advisor Abdul Sarki Mukhtar, had instigated the
violence. He discounted Nigeria Police Force claims that
overcrowding in Jos detention centers had forced police to transfer
the prisoners.
--------------
NEW VIOLENCE HITS GOMBE STATE
--------------
6. (SBU) Two communal clashes occurred in Gombe State on February
10, leaving 80 people injured and 400 displaced, according to an
ICRC contact. Displaced persons, he said, required immediate
relocation to a camp. The clash continued a feud between two
village groups that erupted two years ago. Red Cross volunteers
have provided food for the camp and first aid and medical care to
the injured. This newest violence reportedly did not have links to
religious groups or communal violence in Jos.
-------------- --------------
NIGERIA BECOMES LARGEST SUB-SAHARA IMPORTER OF U.S. RICE
-------------- --------------
7. (U) During the past year, Nigeria has become the largest
importer of U.S. rice in Sub-Saharan Africa, with imports and
purchases climbing to 40,000 tons, with an estimated value of 25
million dollars. This figure represents the highest amount in 25
years. In the process, Nigeria has surpassed nearby Ghana as the
largest buyer of U.S. rice in Sub-Saharan Africa and has become the
largest export market worldwide for U.S. long-grain, brown rice.
While Thai rice exports continued to dominate the Nigerian market,
a reduction in duties on milled and brown rice (from 109 percent to
30 percent and 5 percent, respectively) and competitive pricing
have allowed U.S. rice to re-enter the Nigerian market.
8. (U) Embassy Abuja and ConGen Lagos collaborated on this
telegram.
SANDERS