VZCZCXRO1244
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0175 0970823
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070823Z APR 09
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0675
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0279
RUEHOR/AMEMBASSY GABORONE 0070
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS LAGOS 000175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR GABORONE PASS PDROUIN 
STATE PASS OPIC FOR DERB, ZHAN, MSTUCKART, JEDWARDS 
STATE PASS TDA FOR LFITTS, PMARIN 
STATE PASS USAID FOR NFREEMAN, GBERTOLIN, GWEYNAND 
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER, KJACKSON 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS 
DOC FOR 3310/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS 
DOC FOR USPTO-PAUL SALMON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR EIND EAID NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES AGRICULTURE OPPORTUNITIES 
UNDER AGOA WITH OYO STATE GOVERNOR 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: During a visit to Oyo State on March 25, Ambassador 
engaged Oyo State Governor Alao Akala (PDP) on his plan to build up 
the state's agricultural base. Governor Akala wants the agriculture 
sector to be the key industry in Oyo's industrial development, and 
he plans to float a "Pasture to Farm" company to promote industrial 
farming.  Ambassador informed Governor Akala of the June 2009 U.S. 
Mission-sponsored agriculture workshop that will focus on 
agricultural financing and exports so that Nigeria can take better 
advantage of AGOA.  The workshops will take place in Lagos and will 
involve all stakeholders, namely Nigerian commercial banks as 
financiers, agro-businesses and farmers as exporters, and USG 
agencies such as Ex-Im and TDA as facilitators. Ambassador also 
apprised Governor Akala of her conversation with the Chairman of the 
Southwestern states' economic group called Odua'a, when seeking to 
promise development and trade for the region. She noted that Odu'a 
supported the public private partnership project between U.S. 
Mission and Odu'a for AGOA workshops in Nigeria's five Southwestern 
states.  Ambassador also congratulated Governor Akala on the March 
17 Federal Appeals Court's ruling that confirmed Akala's victory in 
the 2007 gubernatorial election. End summary. 
 
Oyo Focuses on Agriculture as Industrial Base 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) On her visit to Oyo State on March 25, Ambassador engaged Oyo 
State Governor Alao Akala on his economic development plan for the 
state.  Governor Akala said his focus would be on the agricultural 
sector as the basis for industrial development in Oyo.  He wants to 
promote industrial farming and the export of fresh as well as 
processed produce. Oyo State Government will float the project 
"Pasture to Farm" whereby a large area of Oyo's arable land will be 
converted to industrial farming. In response, Ambassador informed 
him that the U.S. Mission is very much focused on agriculture as a 
result of the Global Food Security program and will be involved in a 
PPP in June that focuses on agricultural financing and exports. 
 
¶3. (U) Ambassador also apprised Governor Akala of her discussion 
with Odu'a Investment Company on the possibility of holding an 
inter-state agriculture workshop for five Southwestern states 
focused on AGOA.  (Note: Odu'a Investment Company was incorporated 
in 1976 to manage the business interests of five Western states in 
Nigeria, namely Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti. End Note) Odu'a's 
idea for the workshop is to focus on getting agro-businesses and 
medium to large-size farmers export-ready under AGOA. In addition, 
the Ambassador informed the Governor about the June agriculture PPP 
in Lagos on financing, capital equipment, and technical assistance. 
She asked Governor Akala to identify appropriate stakeholders for 
this workshop, including Oyo government officials, agro-business 
leaders, and farmers. For his part, Governor Akala said he has 
vision for more trade in agriculture with the United States, and Oyo 
State is working with the Foreign Commercial Services to purchase 
farming equipments. 
 
Akala Moving Forward with Appeals Court's Confirmation 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4. (U) Ambassador congratulated Governor Akala on the March 17 
Federal Appeals Court's ruling confirming his victory in the 2007 
gubernatorial election.  Governor Akala said with the Appeals Court 
decision he can finally move forward with his economic development 
plan. 
 
¶5. (U) Comment: Governor Akala's vision of building up the 
agricultural sector exemplifies the growing awareness of the need to 
diversify Nigeria's economy, especially with declining oil prices 
and the global credit crunch.  The U.S. Mission is ramping up 
efforts to assist the agriculture sector in building up its capacity 
and becoming export-ready to take advantage of AGOA. End Comment. 
 
¶6. (U) This cable was cleared with Embassy Abuja. 
 
Blair