NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- JANUARY 22 2010

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000079 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR EAID SOCI NI SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- JANUARY 22 2010 REF: EMAIL:FW: First Draft of Thurday Cable on Jos ¶1. (U) Mission Nigeria provides the following compilation of recent political, economic, and social developments not previously reported. -------------- -------------- ELECTION MONITOR REQUESTS MORE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Attorney Chinelo Iriele, one of ten monitors recently appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the February 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra, told Political Officer January 15 that the group's first briefing occurred January 14 in Abuja, at which INEC officials briefed monitors on voter lists, poll locations, procedures, and plans for the election. At the briefing, she said, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) impressed her with its planning for the election, leaving her more reassured afterwards that a plan existed to deal with election tampering, violence, and civil disobedience. Iriele urged that the U.S. and other international missions send observers to the election and that they arrive at least one day early to attend an official observer briefing. (N.B.: The U.S. Mission has requested official accreditation for its team of observers; other missions, including those of Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Germany, may send informal observers. END NOTE). According to Iriele, committee members feel pressure to ensure the Anambra election will be free and fair, aware of implications for the 2011 national elections. -------------- KIDNAPPERS NAB BABY OF PRESIDENT'S STAFF -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Kidnappers targeted a member of the Presidential staff January 19 when they abducted the four-month-old baby of the Presidential Aircraft Fleet Commander Air Commodore Aminu Adamu, according to the press. A group of robbers kidnapped the child at the family home in Abuja and demanded a ransom of 20 million naira (about 130,000 U.S. dollars) from the parents. The Air Commodore was in Saudi Arabia at the time, where President Yar'Adua remains under treatment. Later that night, the baby's mother telephoned family, friends, and security who held a vigil at the home. Abductors returned the child unharmed after the family paid an undisclosed sum. -------------- BLACK HISTORY MONTH -------------- ¶4. (U) The Mission sponsored events in Abuja and Lagos to honor the memory of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The Consulate General Public Affairs Section (PAS) and the First Baptist Church hosted 250 guests January 14 at a program on "Non-Violence as a Force For Social Change," which focused on Mahatma Gandhi's influence on Dr. King. Footage of a student workshop on how not to react to violence resonated with the audience, which remained sensitive about terrorism accusations after the failed attack on a U.S. airliner December 25. Embassy PAS and the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Alumni Association hosted about 300 high school students and faculty January 15 for a "Youth Leadership Development Forum," which ABUJA 00000079 002 OF 003 honored the legacies of Dr. King and Sir Ahmadu Bello, who both worked for understanding and who both died for their activism and beliefs. The Embassy sponsored a roundtable on "The Role of the Citizen in Education" January 19 to celebrate Dr. King's life and legacy, featuring keynote speakers from top Education Ministry officials and academics, most of whom had participated in U.S. ILVP programs. The audience included 26 guests from education and legal sectors, non-governmental organizations, and international institutions. Speeches elicited passionate responses challenging the "status quo" in Nigeria. All events received positive media coverage. -------------- NIGERIA DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria supported dissemination of the 2008 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) in five states during the past month. (N.B.: The AFR Weekly of December 10 provided a short summary of the NDHS. END NOTE.) USAID personnel worked with GON presenters to ensure objective and accurate presentations of the findings (which included dismal results in several key states) to encourage frank discussions with policy makers. USAID staff urged that political, religious, and traditional leaders address the disappointing health indicators detected by the Survey. USAID personnel will continue to work with other donors and federal health agencies to improve the health of Nigerians. -------------- USAID ROLE FOLLOWING JOS CONFLICT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) For the second time in 15 months, violence engulfed Jos in north-central Plateau State. A Conflict Mitigation and Management Regional Council (CMMRC) (Inter-Religious Council) established by USAID worked closely with government officials and security personnel to restore calm. CMMRC broadcast media jingles, focusing on youth, who had committed most of the destruction, to stabilize the situation. USAID-funded Councils in neighboring Kano and Kaduna states held meetings and liaised with security and government agencies to prevent the spread of violence to their jurisdictions. Mission will continue to monitor the situation. -------------- POWER PLANT STALLED -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Contour Global Executive Vice President Lee Muller expressed frustration January 22 to Lagos Consul General, Foreign Commercial Counselor, and Economic Officer over a power project that his company is building for Nigeria Bottling. This "in-the-fence" power project, designed to supply electricity to a bottling plant, is shovel-ready and can be completed in six to eight months. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC),however, has yet to issue an operating permit to Contour. Muller indicated that NERC has continued to ask "never-ending" questions during the past five months. At one point, NERC officials transmitted an electronic-mail message giving Contour the go-ahead for construction but indicating that approval for operations would come later. Given that the e-mail did not constitute an official letter, Contour did not act on it. Contour, which recently completed a power plant in Togo that won a "project ABUJA 00000079 003 OF 003 of the year" award from the European Union, risks losing 10 million dollars. Contour has several additional projects under consideration, including power projects for three Coca Cola plans in Lagos, Ikeja, and Benin City. SANDERS