VZCZCXRO9965
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHUJA #2052/01 3201026
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161026Z NOV 09 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7469
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 2281
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0609
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 002052 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y - Paragraph markings 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, S/CIEA, AF/PDPA 
USAID FOR AFR/WA (DALZOUMA) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINS PTER KDEM NI
 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: BINATIONAL COMMISSION NIGER DELTA AND REGIONAL 
SECURITY COOPERATION WORKING GROUP GAME PLAN 
 
REF: ABUJA 2016 
 ABUJA 2046 
 
ABUJA 00002052  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶1. Mission Nigeria has met several times to review current and 
proposed initiatives for consideration under the Niger Delta and 
Regional Security Cooperation Working Group (ND/RSC) of the proposed 
U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC).  The goal of this BNC 
Working Group would be to provide immediate, tangible development and 
economic opportunities to Niger Delta inhabitants and to enhance our 
partnership with the Nigerian Government (GON) on regional security. 
Consistent stability and security will be required to allow the U.S. 
to provide technical assistance in these areas.  While the fragile 
amnesty provides a good start, it requires further support on 
rehabilitation, reintegration and training of "ex-militants".  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------------- 
CURRENT USG NIGER DELTA ACTIVITIES 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. The Mission's current Work Plan envisages ongoing technical 
and development assistance in the Niger Delta.  Past violence, an 
unstable security situation, and the threat of kidnapping have 
hindered past efforts to provide the full range of assistance in this 
region.  With implementation of amnesty for militants and the 
subsequent reduction in violence, the USG is seeking to expand its 
program and provide additional development and economic opportunities 
for the Niger Delta.  The USG has actively engaged in various 
activities during the last 12 months in this region that we could 
continue to build upon as part of the ND/RSC working group. 
Illustrative examples of current activities in the Delta region 
follow below: 
 
-- Training 62 environmental officers in oil spill detection and 
recovery methods through the Science Fellows Program. 
 
-- Assisting the Nigerian Navy in Regional Maritime Awareness 
Capability (RMAC) with the installation of the Automated Information 
System (AIS), placing RMAC sensors in Lagos and Bonny Island; we plan 
to install another RMAC device at Naval Headquarters in Abuja in the 
next couple of months. 
 
-- Training and providing equipment to the Nigerian Maritime 
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to improve its capacity to 
interdict trafficking, smuggling, poaching, and illegal bunkering 
through intensive training and cooperation with the US Coast Guard; 
more collaboration will occur when the USCG ship Gallatin visits in 
summer 2010. This includes adding an RMAC sensor at NIMASA's search 
and rescue center. 
 
-- Installing body scanner x-ray machines and drug-explosive- 
detection itemizers at Port Harcourt International Airport, 
Rivers State. 
 
-- Helping to establish an internationally recognized and accredited 
maritime training institution for Niger Delta youth in maritime 
trades, focusing on youth with low education levels who can learn 
skills through rapid training for various maritime trades for which a 
large international demand exists. 
 
-- Refurbishing a skills acquisition center in Yenagoa for skills 
including mechanics, welding, hair-dressing, and dress-making, and 
the Gbaramatu Rural Handicraft Center, both in Bayelsa state, under 
Office of Defense Cooperation auspices. 
QOffice of Defense Cooperation auspices. 
 
-- Increasing the capacity of government institutions, civil society, 
business groups, and other stakeholders to prevent, manage, and 
mitigate the impacts of conflict through USAID's CALM project. 
 
-- Training civilian and military personnel in transnational threats 
through three Trans-Sahara Security symposia held in 2009 and in 
legal aspects of combating terrorism; and training military 
intelligence officers to improve Nigeria's capacity for intelligence 
analysis, dissemination, and sharing. 
 
--Providing technical assistance to the Nigerian Federal Ministry of 
Defence to conduct quarterly HIV/AIDS clinical, laboratory, and 
prevention technical working group meetings.  Providing additional 
supply chain management, pediatric AIDS treatment and counseling and 
 
ABUJA 00002052  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
testing for HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta region. 
 
-- Providing technical assistance and capacity building to Bayelsa 
state through the U.S. Mission's interagency Pilot Engagement with 
States (PES) initiative.  The Ambassador leads interagency teams of 
program, policy and agency specialists to work in states where the 
governor has provided counterpart funds, in a true stakeholder 
relationship for state development, including fiscal responsibility 
and transparency in procurement. USAID has conducted several fiscal 
training workshops with Bayelsa state legislators on fiscal 
responsibility. 
 
-- Providing scholarships and grants to schools and local communities 
through the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund and the Ambassador's 
Girls' Scholarship program. 
 
-- Providing over 5,530,246 insecticide treated bed nets in Cross 
River state. 
 
-- Providing technical assistance to support biosafety regulations 
framework for genetically-modified crops in Cross River State. 
 
-- Helping to increase agricultural productivity for cereals and 
tubers in the region under the Food Security program.  Implementing 
public-private partnerships to improve technology value chains to 
reduce costs and increase productivity. 
 
-- Training youth in IT and entrepreneurial skills through Public 
Diplomacy (PD) and through IFESH. 
-- Conducting quarterly sessions with civil society on election 
reform and other issues. 
 
-- Including Delta states in Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, Public Diplomacy (PD), and Self-Help 
projects such as the Cochran program, trade missions and exchange 
programs. Of note, PD held education workshops for Bayelsa state, and 
both FAS and USCS have included Delta state participants in all their 
programs. 
 
----------------------------------- 
PROPOSED USG NIGER DELTA ACTIVITIES 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. As part of a nationwide BNC game plan, Mission Nigeria could 
add more activities in the Niger Delta on maritime awareness, and 
economic and development opportunities for militants in the 
rehabilitation camps.  Contingent on availability of sufficient 
funding, these activities could include: 
 
-- Continuing Africa Partnership Station (APS) activities and 
training that build better maritime awareness.   An APS visit 
occurred in March 2009, and two will occur in early 2010. 
 
-- Continuing APS activities, including adding an ECOWAS APS ship 
rider and long-term temporary duty (TDY) individual to the Economic 
Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on maritime issues. 
 
-- Adding another AIS RMAC sensor to the Eastern Reserve in Calabar 
to provide full Niger Delta coverage of ship and smuggling 
activities. 
 
-- Enhancing Coast Guard and Navy capabilities through training and 
provision of equipment to monitor coastal waters for smuggling, 
including of illegally bunkered oil. 
 
-- Enhancing port security of Lagos port, including through the 
Energy Department's Megaports initiative and the Homeland Security 
Department's Container Security Initiative (CSI) to reduce smuggling 
of contraband, including weapons, into and out of the nearby Niger 
Qof contraband, including weapons, into and out of the nearby Niger 
Delta. 
 
-- Renewing our offer to identify origins of weapons for which the 
Nigerian Federal Ministry of Defence would have to provide serial 
numbers. 
-- Revisiting our offer to assist on oil bunkering through electronic 
bill of lading or develop other options and processes. 
 
-- Enhancing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ability 
to conduct investigations into corruption, including diversion of GON 
 
ABUJA 00002052  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
funding intended for Niger Delta communities. 
 
-- Enhancing Customs Service capabilities through training and 
provision of equipment to detect contraband at ports, airports, and 
land borders. 
 
-- Establishing a framework for training youth in simple, 
environmental clean-up techniques and employing many youth to start 
cleaning up oil spills throughout the Niger Delta.  The Nigerian 
partner organization could be the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and 
Response Agency (NOSDRA). 
 
-- Helping to establish neighborhood watch groups to report spills; 
encouraging communities to become actively involved in cleaning up 
and protecting their environment. 
 
-- Providing training in deep-sea fishing.   Nigeria has vast, 
untouched marine resources currently poached by large, commercial 
vessels operating illegally in Nigerian waters, according the 
Nigerian Fisheries Department.  Yet, most traditional fishermen lack 
capacity to reach these resources further off-shore than reached by 
traditional fishing craft, such as canoes.   The Nigerian Trawler 
Owners' Association claims that it could triple its fleet if the 
security situation improved and it had sufficient trained personnel. 
 
-- Establishing a subsidiary of the maritime institute in Warri, 
Delta State, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to train fishermen. 
 
-- Providing training in fish farming (aquaculture) to Niger Delta 
coastal communities under the food security initiative.  Nigeria 
currently imports up to 80 percent of its fish.  Many fish varieties 
and shrimp could be produced in fish farms both for local consumption 
or export. 
 
-- Providing assistance on commercial rice production and food 
storage techniques under the food security initiative. 
 
-- Helping develop health care capacity by working with state 
commissioners of health, international NGOs, or Nigerian NGOs, such 
as Rural Africa Health Initiative, which uses mobile surgical clinics 
and teams of medical professional volunteers to provide medical 
treatment to isolate communities in the creeks. 
 
-- Providing vocational training to "ex-militants" in skills useful 
to the Niger Delta area.  Although we are helping refurbish two 
training centers, the USG does not currently have a good program to 
fund vocational training. 
 
-- Encouraging sport and artistic exchanges with youth along the 
lines of the basketball coaches from Global Sports Advantage who have 
operated basketball camps in Port Harcourt for the last three years; 
they recruit potential talent and help the youth obtain sports 
scholarships to the U.S.   Such programs could focus on various 
sports, involving girls and boys, and other disciplines, such as 
theater, music, and dance, if we identify the appropriate U.S. 
partners. 
 
-- Working with the Niger Delta Wetlands Center to replicate their 
successful solar-powered, 900-foot well in Kiama, Bayelsa State. 
Most wells in the region are too shallow, access non-potable water, 
and lack reliable power sources; solar-powered wells would overcome 
such challenges by providing reliable power without recourse to 
diesel-powered generators and tapping into drinking-quality water at 
Qdiesel-powered generators and tapping into drinking-quality water at 
greater depths. 
 
-- Expanding the U.S. Mission Pilot Engagement with States (PES) 
program to include other Niger Delta States besides Bayelsa. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶4. Mission Country Team Members are coordinating closely on 
possible assistance the USG can provide to Niger Delta communities 
during the post-amnesty phases under the BNC.  These activities cut 
across all agencies and sectors and possess potential to make 
significant differences in the lives of the region's inhabitants, 
assuming the security situation remains stable enough to permit a 
prolonged presence in the Niger Delta. 
 
ABUJA 00002052  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
 
¶5. Embassy coordinated this telegram with ConGen Lagos. 
 
SANDERS