VZCZCXRO1304
PP RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN
DE RUEHOS #1133/01 2371430
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251430Z AUG 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7828
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD WASHDC
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0799
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 7762
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 0002
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK
RUFOADA/JAC RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP/ASD-HD//
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
USDA FAS WASHDC FOR FAA/ RANDY HAGER 
USDA FOR OSEC/WAYNE MOLSTAD 
USDA FOR APHIS/JOHN SHAW 
 
FROM OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS, LAGOS 
 
E.O. 12958, N/A 
TAGS: TBIO KFLU EAID AMED EAGR NI AVIANFLU
 
SUBJECT: BIRD FLU SPREADS TO SOUTHWEST NIGERIA 
 
REF: ABUJA 1791 
 
LAGOS 00001133  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  The H5N1 avian influenza (AI) virus is 
spreading at an alarming rate in Southwest Nigeria, the 
region which accounts for about 80 percent of poultry 
production in Nigeria.  President Obasanjo's poultry farm in 
Ota, Ogun State, reportedly has been severely affected. Many 
Poultry operators and government officials are deliberately 
withholding information about the spread of the disease to 
avoid negative consumer reaction. The federal government 
continues to declare victory against AI despite contrary 
facts on the ground.  In Lagos State alone, the virus has 
spread to several local government areas, affecting 
approximately forty small- to medium-scale farmers.   The 
situation is the same in neighboring Ogun, Oyo and Osun 
States. End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) After several months of widespread reports of the 
avian influenza in Northern Nigeria, the disease is now 
prevalent in Southwest Nigeria, which accounts for about 80 
percent of commercial poultry production in the country. 
According to the Lagos State chapter of the Poultry 
Association of Nigeria, an estimated 1 million birds have 
been lost to the virus in the state in the past two months, 
with half of the losses occurring between August 8 and 
August 20, 2006.  The situation is the same in the 
neighboring Southwestern states of Oyo, Ogun and Osun. 
Reportedly, the disease has visited President Obasanjo's 
poultry farm in Ota, Ogun State, one of the largest 
operations in the state, according to industry contacts. 
Although there has not been any laboratory confirmation of 
H5N1 on the president's farm, high mortality was reported on 
the farm and all live birds at the farm have either been 
sold or removed to other locations in the state. 
 
¶3. (U) Generally, Nigerian poultry farmers conceal and sell 
off stocks rather than report the flu to the authorities. 
This is because the compensation of 250 naira per bird 
promised by the Federal Government is considered inadequate, 
and payment is slow.  In addition, affected farmers complain 
that state and federal government authorities lack even the 
most basic resources such as transportation and manpower to 
mount a meaningful response.  In most cases, by the time the 
disease is confirmed, all the birds at a farm would have 
died of the disease.  The GON only compensates farmers for 
birds depopulated, not those killed by the disease. 
Industry contacts report that farmers quickly sell off their 
flocks to avoid loses when they begin to experience high 
mortality rates, regardless of the type of illness. Major 
market locations within Lagos State are also recording high 
mortality rates. 
 
¶4. (U) Poultry farmers under the umbrella of the Poultry 
Association of Nigeria appealed to the GON to increase the 
level of compensation and to assist affected farmers to 
restock.  In the meantime, several farmers in the region 
have vaccinated their flocks in contravention of GON's 
directive not to vaccinate.  The poultry industry and the 
government continue to show no interest in informing the 
public about the dire situation. We have recently talked to 
the Lagos State Agricultural Commissioner about the need to 
inform the public.  The Commissioner promised to initiate 
information campaign alerting the public in the coming days. 
 
¶5. (U) The federal government finally established 
compensation coordinators at the state level to implement a 
$9 million "relief" program as part of the $50 million World 
Bank loan for Nigeria. The new compensation guidelines will 
consider the cost of production as the basis for 
compensation rather than using a fixed price. Therefore, the 
compensation price is expected to vary based on the type of 
breed and operation (layers, broilers, etc.). 
 
LAGOS 00001133  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) In a conversation with the AgAttache on August 22, 
the Lagos State Veterinary Service and the GON's Chief 
Veterinary Officer (CVO) acknowledged the magnitude of the 
problem and the states' overwhelming needs for assistance 
from the federal government. The Lagos State poultry 
association is planning to organize several workshops on 
biosecurity in cooperation with state and federal offices, 
but has no plans to undertake a high- profile public 
campaign. Lagos State veterinary offices report that none of 
the workers examined by health authorities have tested 
positive for AI, but details as to how many farms were 
visited and when remain sketchy. 
 
¶7. (U) On August 19, 2006, post received a written request 
for technical assistance on AI from the CVO. The request was 
forwarded to USDA Washington for consideration. The CVO and 
representatives from the Poultry Association of Nigeria are 
planning to attend the National Poultry Improvement Plan 
Conference in Portland, Oregon, September 7-9, 2006. The CVO 
is scheduled to also visit the USDA/APHIS Emergency Center 
in Riverdale, Maryland on September 11-12 to consult with 
USDA officials. 
Browne