REPORTS OF STARVATION IN NIGERIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KADUNA 0709

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: ECON SOCI SREF NI
SUBJECT: REPORTS OF STARVATION IN NIGERIA

REF: LAGOS 06244


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT


2. CONGEN HAS LITTLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT REFTEL REPORT OF
DROUGHT-RELATED STARVATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. WE
RECOGNIZE THAT THE SITUATION IN SOME AREAS IS VERY SERIOUS,
AND WE WOULD, THEREFORE, NOT BE SURPRISED TO FIND SCATTERED
INCIDENCES OF STARVATION. HOWEVER, NONE OF OUR SOURCES IN
THE AREA HAVE REPORTED IT TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM, AND WE
DOUBT IT EXISTS ON ANY LARGE SCALE.


3. THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGES IN SOME AREAS IS
SUBSTANTIATED BY THE REPEATED PLEAS BY THE NORTHERN
GOVERNORS FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE--INCLUDING FOOD AID--FOR
DROUGHT VICTIMS IN THEIR STATES. MUCH OF THE U.S.--PURCHASED
MAIZE WHICH RECENTLY ARRIVED IN LAGOS IS EVIDENTLY INTENDED
FOR THIS PURPOSE. IF THE AMERICAN GRAIN ACTUALLY FINDS ITS
WAY TO THOSE MOST IN NEED, THE SITUATION SHOULD BE
ALLEVIATED SOMEWHAT. LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS IN THE
DISTRIBUTION OF AVAILABLE ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES AND THE
SIMPLE INABILITY OF THE NEEDIEST PEOPLE TO PAY FOR
FOODSTOCKS MAY, IN FACT, BE THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTING
FACTORS TO ANY OCCURRENCES OF STARVATION THAT EXIST.


4. ARGUING AGAINST REPORTS OF WIDESPREAD STARVATION
IS THE RELAXED ATTITUDE OF THE FMG TOWARD ALIEN DROUGHT
REFUGEES IN NIGERIA. NO EFFORTS WERE MADE TO EVICT
THESE PEOPLE DURING THE RECENT EXPULSION EXERCISE, AND
INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER MAGORO STATED LAST WEEK THAT
NIGERIA IS ACCOMMODATING 250,000 ALIEN DROUGHT REFUGEES
ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS. IF A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
NIGERIANS WERE THREATENED WITH STARVATION, THE FMG
WOULD LIKELY HAVE A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE TO SO LARGE A
GROUP OF ALIENS COMPETING FOR AVAILABLE FOOD SUPPLIES.


ANDRESEN