VZCZCXRO6674
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHUJA #1854/01 2821237
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091237Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7180
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0569
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0455
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 2103
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0429
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2065
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001854 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA 
USAID FOR AFR/WA (DALZOUMA) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN NUGGETS -- OCTOBER 9, 2009 
 
REF: ABUJA 1757 
 
¶1. (U) Mission Nigeria provides the following compilation of 
recent political, economic, and social developments not 
previously reported. 
 
----------------- 
MINING TEAM VISIT 
----------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The Mission sponsored a visit by a five-person mining 
team to Jos and Abuja to better understand investment 
opportunities in Nigeria's mining sector.  The team, 
comprised of Embassy Abuja's EconCouns and Energy Officer, 
Embassy Pretoria's Minerals Officer and Minerals Specialist, 
and the U.S. Geological Survey's Africa and Middle East 
Director, met with federal and Plateau State mining sector 
officials, traveled to several mine sites, and led a 
stakeholder industry roundtable at the Nigerian Institute of 
Mining and Geo-Sciences in Jos.  The team met with the 
Project Coordinator for the World Bank's 250 million-dollar 
project to promote sustainable management of mineral 
resources.  Nigeria's solid mineral resources, if responsibly 
developed, could help diversify the economy away from 
over-dependence on oil and gas, thereby increasing employment 
and reducing poverty.  The minerals team will prepare reports 
on the state of mining in Nigeria, the tin mining industry, 
and the mining investment climate in Plateau state, including 
recommendations for a mining program.  A small amount of 
technical assistance could increase the productivity of 
small-scale and artisanal mining in Plateau State. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
USAID -- BBC WORLD SERVICE TRUST MEDIA PROJECT 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3. (U) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) 
entered into a public-private partnership with the BBC World 
Service Trust (BBC WST) to strengthen the Nigerian media. 
The partnership will train journalists and program managers 
in six states to cover key governance issues using 
international standards and applying values of impartiality, 
accuracy, balance, and objectivity.  Under the project, 24 
partner radio stations will receive intensive on-site 
training to produce radio programs that engage audiences to 
discuss governance issues, including oil-sector transparency, 
public-sector resource management, health and water 
management, and community-service delivery.  The partnership 
will use a popular Nigerian radio drama, "Story, Story," 
which roots governance issues in everyday, local realities. 
Twenty journalists will receive financial support to pursue 
investigative stories, which they would otherwise overlook 
because of lack of resources.  Training will target civil 
society organizations to improve their ability to use the 
media to achieve awareness and advocacy objectives.  Under 
this partnership, USAID will provide 4.5 million dollars and 
the BBC/WST 10.7 million dollars (mainly in-kind), for a 
total of 15.2 million dollars, during three years. 
 
-------------------------------- 
CDC RESPONDS TO CHOLERA OUTBREAK 
-------------------------------- 
Q-------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) During the past month, the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC) supported eight public-health 
professionals in responding to a cholera outbreak in three 
Northeastern Nigerian states.  The deployed health care 
responders, who serve as residents of the Field Epidemiology 
and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), train medical, 
veterinary, and laboratory professionals to respond to public 
health emergencies in collaboration with GON Ministries of 
Health and Agriculture.  The cholera outbreak occurred during 
a national health care workers strike that hampered local 
responses.  NFELTP residents helped establish cholera 
 
ABUJA 00001854  002 OF 003 
 
 
treatment camps, environmental sanitation, mass water 
treatment, door-to-door health education, and negotiated 
improved hospital support to include funding for generator 
fuel, mattresses, and medical supplies.  As of October 5, 
unofficial reports indicated 3,779 cases and 461 deaths from 
cholera. 
 
------------------------------------- 
HIV/AIDS NATIONAL STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) The National Agency for the Control of AIDS officially 
launched its strategy development process the week of October 
5 for the National Strategic Framework on HIV/AIDS 2010-2015. 
 The USG, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief (PEPFAR), supports this critical effort for creating a 
costed, national strategic plan committed to ensuring 
sustainability of multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS responses in 
Nigeria. 
 
----------------------------------- 
ELECTORAL BODY TO ACCREDIT MONITORS 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 
International Liaison Deputy Director Blessing Obidiegwu told 
PolOff September 29 that her agency's primary engagement with 
the international community occurred through the United 
Nations Development Program (UNDP) Joint Donor Basket Fund 
(JDBF).  Under JDBF, Ambassador Brownson Dede, a retired 
career diplomat and one-time Assistant Secretary General of 
the Organization of African Unity (now African Union), serves 
as a consultant to INEC.  Obidiegwu noted INEC established 
Electoral Institutes in Abuja and Delta State to train the 
organization's 300 permanent staff.  INEC officials planned 
to release the 2011 electoral calendar in October 2010. 
According to Obidiegwu, INEC will accredit all nations that 
seek status as international monitors and agree to follow 
INEC guidelines.  She said INEC would welcome international 
monitors for the Anambra February 6, 2010, gubernatorial 
election, noting that accreditation requests must be 
submitted by November. 
 
---------------------------- 
INTER-PARTY ADVISORY COUNCIL 
---------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman Dr. 
Iheanyichukwu Nnaji and representatives from some 20 
political parties (out of 54 belonging to IPAC) expressed 
discontent October 2 to PolOff regarding GON performance on 
electoral reforms.  While belonging to IPAC, the ruling 
People's Democratic Party (PDP) did not send a 
representative.  IPAC members claimed that a constitutional 
amendment on electoral reform would be needed before the 2011 
polls to avoid a repeat of violence and election-rigging from 
the 2007 elections.  IPAC officials plan to send a delegation 
to Anambra State, after voter registration closes and 
political parties nominate their gubernatorial candidates, to 
encourage a free and fair poll in February. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEBATES ELECTORAL REFORM 
------------------------------------------ 
Q------------------------------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) The National Assembly, which reconvened the week of 
October 5 after a two-month recess, discussed electoral 
reform constitutional amendments.  The Senate transferred an 
Electoral Offenses Commission Bill to a Constitutional Review 
Committee for further action after hours of debate on a 
provision allowing the President to fire any INEC member. 
Additionally, sponsors withdrew language establishing an 
Electoral Violence Commission from a Police Amendment Bill in 
the face of likely National Assembly rejection. 
 
ABUJA 00001854  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) Embassy Abuja and Consulate General Lagos collaborated 
on this telegram. 
MCCULLOUGH