VZCZCXRO4632
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #1239 2721049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291049Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7969
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 7853
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LAGOS 001239 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/EPS CAROL TRIMBLE, AF/RSA 
MARINDA HARPOLE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON SOCI AFIN AMGT NI
SUBJECT: SSH/DHRF GRANT FUNDS SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT 
AND DEMOCRACY IN TROUBLED NIGER DELTA 
 
REF: SECSTATE 118206 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (U)  On September 19, the Consul General signed 
thirteen grant agreements to fund Special Self-help 
(SSH) and Democracy Human Rights Fund (DHRF) 
projects in the Niger Delta states of Delta, Rivers, 
Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom.  The SSH grants fund 
community development projects, including boreholes 
for water wells, classroom furniture, food 
processing equipment, school textbooks, a livestock 
building, solar panels, and a community library. 
The DHRF grants support human rights and democracy 
trainings to stop violence and to facilitate the 
entry of more women into the political process.  All 
2006 SSH/DHRF funds for Nigeria have been obligated. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) With the signing of thirteen grant agreements 
by the Consul General on September 19, Post has 
obligated funding for 2006 Special Self Help (SSH) 
and Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) programs 
in the Niger Delta states of Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa 
and Akwa Ibom. 
 
Community Development Projects 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (U)  The 2006 SSH program will fund eleven 
community development projects in the Niger Delta 
region.  These projects will benefit over 180,000 
people in communities in the Delta, which despite 
its oil wealth, is one of Nigeria's least developed 
areas. 
 
Democracy Training Workshops 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  The DHRF grants will fund democracy 
training workshops through two Niger Delta 
organizations. One organization will invite 
community and youth leaders from ten communities in 
Rivers State to a "Training Workshop to Stop 
Violence," to participate in activities that promote 
nonviolent political activism.  The other grant 
recipient will hold a three-day workshop, 
"Mainstreaming Women into the Political Process in 
Nigeria's Niger Delta States."  At the workshop, 
women will be trained in the skills needed to have a 
stronger voice in local decision-making processes 
and to participate more fully in local elections. 
 
United States a Proud Partner in Projects 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  In his remarks at the signing ceremony, the 
Consul General commended the SSH and DHRF recipients 
for striving to improve the social and economic 
conditions in their communities, and encouraged them 
to continue their efforts.  He urged Nigerians to 
embrace political democracy and live its values. He 
stressed that the United States is a proud partner, 
not a "boss or a director," in the projects. 
 
Signing Receives Press Coverage 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U)  Articles describing U.S. assistance to the 
Niger Delta region and the Consul General's speech 
appeared in two regional newspapers, The Punch and 
The Daily Independent. 
 
CG Visits Two Project Sites 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U)  The Consul General visited two project 
sites.  A hospital in Delta State uses its FY2004 
SSH-funded generator to operate equipment.  In 
Asaba, the community will install rice-threshing 
equipment with their SSH grant. 
 
BROWNE