R 131223Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0589
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY ABUJA 
JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
CIA WASHINGTON DC
DIA WASHINGTON DC
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS LAGOS 000120 
 
 
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/EX AND INR/AA 
STATE PASS TO USTR-AGAMA 
GABARONE FOR PHIL DROUIN 
BAGHDAD FOR DUNDAS MCCULLOUGH 
TREASURY FOR PETERS AND HALL 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS 
USAID/AFR/WA FOR TWAY, USAID/AFR/SD JHILL, AND UNSAID/EGAT 
MOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON EAID NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR PILOT ENGAGEMENT 
WITH BAYLESA STATE 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Three sites which had been identified as 
potential projects suitable for the Ambassador's Pilot 
Engagement with Bayelsa State were visited by Pol-Econ Chief, 
PolOff, and Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) 
Representatives on February 4 and 5. OSC representatives 
conducted surveys and spoke with communities about the 
prospective projects to assess their suitability for the 
Ambassador's pilot program. End Summary. 
 
Rural Handicraft Center, Gbarantoru 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On February 4, Pol-Econ Chief, PolOff and two 
representatives of OSC (U.S. team) visited in Gbarantoru 
community a project described by Bayelsa State officials as a 
Rural Handicraft Center in need of rehabilitation. In fact, 
only a few concrete walls from a previous center built in the 
early 1980s were remaining. The center had been out of use 
and decaying since the late 1980s. The community, however, 
appeared very keen to re-launch the center to enable the 
women of the community to practice traditional handicrafts 
such as basket weaving and the production of traditional 
fishing gear on a commercial scale. The women of the 
community were present in large numbers to welcome the 
visitors from the United States and had brought examples of 
the kind of crafts they hope to produce in the center. 
Spokesmen for the community stressed that the center would 
give the women sources of income and increase their status 
and independence. Notably, PolOffs were told by community 
spokespersons that the waters in which the community fished 
were not polluted and the fishing was still good, making the 
sale of these handicrafts to locals a viable business 
venture. A representative of the Bayelsa government stressed 
that Bayelsa state is very interested in diversifying the 
economy away from oil and gas and would like to see fishing 
become more important again, something which this craft 
center would indirectly support. 
 
State Skills Acquisition Center, Yenagoa 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Following the visit to Gbarantoru, the U.S. team 
continued to the Skills Acquisition Center in Yenagoa. This 
is a fully functioning facility which trains 200 youths per 
year, approximately 50 of whom are women, in the skills of 
masonry, auto mechanics, refrigeration, welding, carpentry, 
hair dressing and sewing. The skills center wanted to teach 
computer skills as well, but found it impossible to finance 
and maintain the computers. The students are selected from on 
average 1,000 applications (i.e. five per position) per year, 
and selection is based on qualifications as well as the 
applicants, geographic place of origin. The Skills 
Acquisition Center's facilities were cramped and crowded, 
while the available equipment was minimal and old. (Comment: 
With more space, and particularly with more and better 
equipment, the skills training could be expanded and improved 
substantially. End Comment.) 
 
¶4. (U) Asked by PolOff about job placement, the director of 
the school admitted that the Skills Acquisition Center itself 
has no job placement program and that most graduates have 
difficulty finding work even after successful completion of 
the training. In 2000, the Center experimented with 
"entrepreneurial training" and provided micro-credits and 
start-up tools to 13 graduates to enable them to set up their 
own businesses. Although ten of the recipients took the money 
and tools, they failed to develop successful businesses. 
Three of the recipients, however, are still in business and 
doing well, according to the director of the Skills 
Acquisition Center. 
 
 
Sanitation Project in Ugbokodo Community 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) On February 5, the U.S. team visited Ugbokodo 
Community, which was the site of a completed sanitation 
project funded by the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund 
(SSH). The project entailed a well and a toilet facility 
providing two men,s' and two women's toilets near the site 
of the weekly market. The facility was clean and well 
maintained. However, spokesmen for the community told the 
U.S. visitors that at present the cleaning is done by 
volunteers and that money is needed to compensate the 
cleaners on a regular basis. Furthermore, the facilities were 
located at the very end of the village beyond a market and 
were locked when the U.S. team arrived, suggesting that they 
are not always accessible. The community spokesman also told 
PolOffs that the community numbers between 7,000 and 8,000 
inhabitants, highlighting that the single unit is inadequate. 
 
¶5. (U) Comment: The site visits were the first step toward 
OSC projects commencing in a Niger Delta State. Post will 
attempt to create synergies by working with communities that 
have already shown initiative by sponsoring a successful SSH 
project. End Comment. 
 
¶6. (U) This cable has been cleared with Embassy Abuja. 
 
 
BLAIR