VZCZCXRO6285
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0815/01 1271108
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061108Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2752
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 9178
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0345
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000815 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS USTR FOR AGAMA 
DAKAR FOR FAA MKEANE 
DOE FOR PERSON 
USDA FOR FAS VERDONK AND MCKINNELL 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS 
DOT FOR KSAMPLE 
 
E.O. 12958 
TAGS: PREL ECON EAID ETRD EAIR SNAR NI
SUBJECT: FRAMEWORK FOR PARTNERSHIP: TEAM NIGERIA MEETS GON 
MINISTERS 
 
REF: ABUJA 395 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ambassador and an interagency team met, for 
the second time this year, with senior-level Nigerian officials as 
part of the "U.S.-Nigeria Framework for Partnership" in April 2008. 
During the exchange, the Minister of State for Power reported that 
the Government of Nigeria (GON) will soon announce a new multi-year 
electricity tariff as an incentive for U.S. investors.  A Minister 
of Transport representative indicated that the Civil Aviation 
Authority was in the process of approving World Airways re-entry 
rights for passengers and freight, and a decision requesting 
approval for Air Marshalls on Delta Flights was forthcoming.  The 
USG and GON agreed to continue working on common goals and 
objectives through creating inter-agency thematic working groups in 
the areas of Peace and Security, Economic Growth and Trade, 
Investing in People, and Governing Justly.  Following setup, the 
working groups will report outcomes to the quarterly Framework for 
Partnership senior level reviews.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador was accompanied by the Economic Counselor, 
Agricultural Attach, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
(INL) Program Officer, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) Chief, 
and the USAID Mission Director.  The GON officials included: 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Baguda Hirse, Minister of 
State for Defense Fidelia Auababa Njeze, Minister of Interior Godwin 
Abbe, Minister of State for Energy (Power) Fatima Balarabe Ibrahim, 
and Special Senior Assistant to the President for Economic Matters 
(SSAP) J.O. Ayo.  Others present included Permanent Secretary for 
Power, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the 
Government of the Federation (SGF), representative for the Ministry 
of Transport and Presidential and Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
staffers.  The session was chaired by the Minister of State for 
Foreign Affairs Hirse. 
 
Business and Trade 
------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador told the GON that import bans and high 
tariffs are blocking U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) and that 
there has been little progress on the Trade Investment Framework 
Agreement (TIFA).  The GON continues to maintain import bans on a 
range of agricultural products including maize, beef and pork 
products, as well as poultry and poultry products, edible oil and a 
number of other products.  She urged Nigeria to become a player in 
the Economic Community of Western Africa States (ECOWAS) and to 
adopt common external tariff (CET).  The Ambassador and the Economic 
Counselor emphasized that the Mission and the Office of the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR) are ready to begin expert-level 
discussion but it is up to the GON to set up next round of talks, 
particularly if seeking progress on bilateral investment treaty 
(BIT).  (NOTE: The first TIFA quarterly digital video conference 
between the US and Nigeria took place in April.  Both sides had 
robust teams participate and several bilateral irritants were 
discussed during the five hours. END NOTE.) 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Minister of Transport (MOT) representative indicated 
that the Civil Aviation Authority was in the process of approving 
World Airways re-entry rights for passenger and freight service and 
a decision requesting approval for the Air Marshalls on Delta 
flights are forthcoming.  In addition, MOT requested technical 
assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation on railways 
infrastructure planning and construction and hopes to work closely 
with the USG.  Fatima Balarabe Ibrahim, Minister of State for Power, 
reported that the GON will soon announce new multi-year electricity 
tariff as an incentive to U.S. investors. 
 
Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) INL Program Officer reported that the Mission met with the 
Head of the Civil Service Federation and discussed establishing 
working groups to promote transparency and accountability for 
salaries, wages, pensions and employee records by developing 
automated systems.  Ibrahim stressed the need for personnel and 
procurement reforms to resolve problems in the power sector.  J.O. 
Ayo, Special Assistant to the President on the Economic Matters, 
 
ABUJA 00000815  002 OF 002 
 
 
told INL Officer, after the meeting, that the government is 
interested in capacity building on ethics, fraud and 
anti-corruption. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador asked Godwin Abbe, Minister of Interior, if 
he is interested in replicating the successful Kaduna State program 
on community policing in the rest of the country.  Abbe commented 
that the Federal level was the best mechanism to coordinate 
community policing programs rather than through state governments. 
(COMMENT: The Mission does not support Abbe's opinion on working 
only with the federal while ignoring state and local governments, 
and will continue to engage with all stakeholders.  END COMMENT.) 
 
Health 
------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador and the USAID Director expressed concern 
with the rising number of polio cases compared to the same period 
last year and urged the GON to show serious political and financial 
commitment to polio eradication.  Nigeria is one of only four 
countries in the world where polio is endemic and most recent data 
shows that polio has spread to more northern states since last year. 
 The USAID Director emphasized that the USG is committed to 
assisting Nigeria, but this effort needs high-level GON involvement 
and commitment. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The USAID Director continued that the United Nations 
Children's Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that there is a $260 million 
polio eradication funding gap for 2008, and 2007 GON commitments to 
provide $35-40 million did not fully materialize.  Approximately 
only $13 million was available by the end of 2007 from Millennium 
Development Goals (MDG) funds.  In 2008 the GON reported an 
additional $13 million would be made available, however this amount 
falls short of the need highlighted by UNICEF. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Ministers all expressed surprise at the rise in polio 
cases.  The USAID Director explained that for the vaccine to be 
successful - 100% of the children have to be vaccinated.  The 
Ambassador also covered polio issue in a private meeting with 
President Yar'Adua later that evening. He took note of the 
sensitivity of the issue and said he would have the Acting Health 
Minister engage more in order to avoid a larger problem. 
 
¶10. (SBU) On Peace and Security, Ambassador Sanders addressed with 
Defense Minister forward movement on battalion for Somalia, 
highlighted a need for a SOFA and engagement with the U.S. on 
maritime issues. 
 
Thematic Working Groups 
----------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Ambassador suggested, and Ministers agreed to continue 
further discussions on issues of Peace and Security, Economic Growth 
and Trade, Investing in People, Governing Justly in order for things 
to more forward in the bilateral relationship in the Framework for 
Partnerships. 
 
¶11. (SBU) COMMENT: The U.S.-Nigeria Framework for Partnership is 
moving forward.  After two Ministerial meetings in February and 
April 2008, the USG and the GON will continue cooperation by 
tackling specific issues through the thematic working group 
meetings.  END COMMENT. 
 
SANDERS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1