

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09LAGOS76, NIGERIA: ISRAELI MILITARY TRAINS, EQUIPS JTF IN
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09LAGOS76.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09LAGOS76 | 2009-02-23 06:08 | 2011-04-06 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Consulate Lagos |
VZCZCXRO9422
OO RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0076/01 0540608
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 230608Z FEB 09
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0512
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0132
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 LAGOS 000076
SIPDIS
STATE PASS NSC FOR BOBBY PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PM EPET ECON KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ISRAELI MILITARY TRAINS, EQUIPS JTF IN
RIVERS
Classified By: Consul General Donna M. Blair for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
¶1. (C) Summary: Magnus Abe (protect throughout), Secretary to
the State Government of Rivers State, told Pol-Econ Chief
January 17 that Governor Amaechi had succeeded in pushing the
military into buying helicopters, gunboats and other
equipment for the Joint Task Force (JTF); as a result of
military activity, life has returned almost to normal in Port
Harcourt, Abe said. The Israeli military is equipping and
training the JTF, including with remote aerial surveillance
systems, according to Abe. Neither the Niger Delta Ministry
nor the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been
adequately funded in the federal government budget, resulting
in a great deal of anger among Niger Deltans, Abe reported.
In Abe's opinion, the President will not do anything for the
Niger Delta, because to do so he would have to take money out
of the hands of the other states, and stand up to Nigeria's
"rapacious elites." According to Abe, Rivers State
recognizes the complicity of the JTF in illegal bunkering,
and now orders the JTF to reduce by half amounts of illegally
bunkered oil coming out of the creeks, as a way to reduce
company losses. (Note: Abe's account neither explains how
this mechanism helps the company from which the oil is stolen
to reduce its losses, nor what happens to the other half of
the stolen oil. End Note) The Rivers State Sustainable
Development Program is being run by Shell, and has
established microfinance programs, loan programs for bus and
taxi service providers, health centers and subsidized health
care in each local government area (LGA) as well as built
roads. Cancer rates are rising in the Niger Delta, Abe
observed. We are unable to confirm some of Abe's claims,
particularly those related to the JTF's newly acquired
security equipment. However, both his prediction that the
President will do nothing to resolve the crisis in the Niger
Delta, and his observation that Niger Delta indigenes are
increasingly angry at that failure, are echoed by many of our
interlocutors. End Summary.
¶2. (C) Pol-Econ Chief met January 17 with Rivers State
Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Magnus Abe. Abe
stated that in October of 2007, when Governor Amaechi took
office, the JTF had had no functioning helicopters, nor
armored personnel carriers, and only two functioning
gunboats. Governor Amaechi provided the Joint Task force
with 140 vehicles, and actively lobbied the Federal
Government to provide additional equipment. The JTF now has
20-30 functioning gunboats, two helicopters and other
equipment. As a result, life in Port Harcourt, which had
been overrun by criminals, is almost back to normal and crime
has again become an unattractive proposition, Abe said.
Business transactions in Nigeria are especially vulnerable to
criminal activities, because the banks don't function the way
they do in the developed world; in Nigeria, everyone moves
large amounts of cash, and the criminals are after people who
are connected to or have access to that money, he said.
¶3. (C) With the improvement in security, there are
currently over 700 British nationals in Port Harcourt, and
the French "never left", Abe alleged. British and French
Consulate personnel "travel to Port Harcourt all the time".
Air France is considering regular flights to Port Harcourt,
according to Abe. (Note: Pol-Econ Chief spoke with French
Consul General Jean Luc Bodin February 19. Bodin confirmed
that the Government of France never warned its citizens
against travel to the Niger Delta, and noted that from
500-600 French nationals continue to reside in Port Harcourt.
Air France flies into the Port Harcourt international
airport from Paris four times per week, and hopes to increase
the frequency of flights to one a day, Bodin said. Bodin
travels to the region "from time to time", but another
Consulate staff person, a French citizen, travels to Port
Harcourt weekly on Consulate business. In a January 20
conversation, David Harries, Consul, British Deputy High
Commission in Lagos, told Pol-Econ Chief that the U.K.
continues to warn its citizens against travel to the Niger
Delta. He said that he had traveled twice in the last half
year to the Niger Delta, once to Port Harcourt in September
2008, and a second time in January. He confirmed that the
there are 676 registered British nationals living in Port
Harcourt, 65 living in Warri, Delta State, and 2 in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State. End Note)
LAGOS 00000076 002 OF 004
Israeli Military Training, Equipping JTF
----------------------------------------
¶4. (C) The JTF has been collaborating with the Israeli
military, which has been providing equipment and training,
according to Abe. The equipment provided includes a
surveillance device that Abe called "a camera on a balloon,"
which allows the JTF remotely to scan the area with a certain
radius. This is particularly important when threats have
been received by telephone, Abe noted. It would be fine if
kidnappers or other criminals could be easily captured and
arrested, but when they start shooting, the JTF shoots back.
The killing that takes place sounds wanton, callous, he said,
unless the person kidnapped is your own child.
¶5. (C) Fara Dagogo and Ateke Tom are not putting their own
lives at risk, he said. Their networks sell oil and get
police protection. Students used to go to the camps for
three months during their vacations so that they could earn
money. They would earn 50,000 naira (USD 357 at the current
rate of exchange 140 naira/USD 1.00), for a total of 150,000
naira (USD 1,071) for a three month period. Now, however,
with the JTF pressing them, the job is no longer glamorous
but dangerous, and society is mobilized to call them
criminals, Abe stated. The Elem Tombia community that was
razed is now being developed, Abe alleged. The JTF has taken
up a position there, people are returning and the schools and
churches are open and functioning. (Note: We have been
unable to obtain independent information with which to verify
this claim. End Note) The criminals themselves have moved
away from the area, Abe said.
Anger at Failure to Fund New Ministry, NDDC
-------------------------------------------
¶6. (C) While the Governor may have been able to push the
military into buying new equipment, he has not been able to
influence the federal government to allocate more funds to
the Niger Delta, Abe said. Neither the Niger Delta Ministry
nor the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been
adequately funded in the federal budget, and there is a great
deal of anger among the people of the region; Nigeria's
leaders are extremely insensitive to the equity issue, Abe
said. Unfortunately, the people's anger has led to violence
that has boomeranged and impacted on the people themselves,
according to Abe. Abe said he doubted that the President
will do anything for the Niger Delta; to do so, he would have
to take funds out of the hands of the other states.
¶7. (C) The country is in the hands of a "rapacious elite,"
Abe said, and it would be legitimate for the masses to rise.
Of the 500 people he sees every Tuesday and Thursday in his
office, they all want the same thing: inflated contracts. He
asks them: do you want me to steal, and the response is
invariably "yes." Abe said he tells them: Think about the
person whose child has malaria, whose wife needs a caesarian;
that is what the money will be spent for. To make change,
Abe said, a leader must confront the ruling class. In a few
cases, such as that of Governor Amaechi, who fell out with
his godfather, or Adams Oshiomhole, who managed to get by
without one, they will be able to make some progress, but
will have to watch their backs, he said. There are no
constituents in Nigeria, only godfathers, Abe stressed.
Rivers Tells JTF How Much It Can Illegally Bunker
--------------------------------------------- ----
¶8. (C) Illegal bunkering involves tremendous amounts of
money, and the operations of international criminal groups,
Abe said. Rivers State has been able to gain a modicum of
control over the illegal bunkering, Abe noted, by recognizing
the connivance between the criminals and the military. As a
result, when Shell calls to say that the company has lost
10,000 barrels of oil, Rivers State now calls the JTF
officers in charge of that portion of the territory, and
orders that the amount of oil coming out of the creeks be
reduced by half. In this fashion, the State is trying to
control international oil company losses sector by sector,
Abe contended. (Comment: Abe's account neither explains how
LAGOS 00000076 003 OF 004
this mechanism helps the company from which the oil is stolen
to reduce its losses, nor what happens to the other half of
the stolen oil. End Note)
RSSDP Guided By Board of International Partners
--------------------------------------------- --
¶9. (C) The Rivers State Sustainable Development Program
(RSSDP) is being run by Shell and guided by a board composed
of international development partners, including the World
Bank. More than 300 youths have been sent abroad to study.
The State has constructed 250 schools pursuant to the
program, Abe said.
Micro-Finance Programs Operating
--------------------------------
¶10. (C) A law establishing micro-finance systems has been
passed, and 600 million naira (USD 4.28 million) has been
distributed to individuals through the Ministry of Women's
Affairs, Abe noted. The program must be self-sustaining, Abe
said; if the loans are not repaid, the State will not
replenish the funds. To assure that the people who get the
loans use them well, the RSSDP is also conducting
entrepreneurship training via the local government areas
(LGAs). The State has also given two billion naira (USD 14.3
million) to the Rivers State microfinance institution in
partnership with First City Monument Bank. Three or four
microfinance banks have already been prequalified. Before
granting loans, they will provide training in elementary
bookkeeping and other skills. That will assure that they
will be able to pay back and keep the fund self-sustaining,
Abe stated.
¶11. (C) To improve safety, Port Harcourt has banned okadas
(motorcycle taxis) in the city. To assure that there is
sufficient low-cost transportation available, the RSSDP has
entered into a partnership with Skye Bank to arrange loans
for the purchase of taxis and busses. The cost is
approximately 300,000 naira (2,000 USD) for which the new
owners pay 15,000 naira (USD 100) per week until the vehicle
is paid for. Not enough new busses have as yet been
purchased to serve all the people, he said, but there are
plenty of other vehicles on the road to take up the slack.
(Comment: Other interlocutors, Port Harcourt indigenes who
actually rely upon okadas and busses for transport, say that
the majority of the vehicles purchased with the loans have
been placed in service, not as taxis, but as private
vehicles. They also report that there is widespread
suspicion that the loans were available only to cronies of
politicians. End Comment.)
Health Centers Established
--------------------------
¶12. (C) The RSSDP has established 160 health centers, five in
each LGA, Abe claimed. In the past, clinics were not more
than rooms, without equipment or medicines. Now each health
center is not only staffed by a doctor and two nurses, it is
equipped with an operating theater and an ambulance. Flats
have been provided so that the doctor and nurses can live
close to the clinic, said Abe. Treatment is free only for
children under six and for adults over 60, but the state
provides a subsidy of almost 30 billion naira (USD 214
million) to assure that the quality of care provided is high.
Roads Under Construction
------------------------
¶13. (C) The Federal Government has not funded one road in the
key Niger Delta States in the last ten years, Abe alleged.
The Bayelsa to Bonny road was promised by Federal Government
but never funded. Rivers State has begun construction of the
Port Harcourt Ring Road, which will cost one billion naira
(USD 7.14 million). The Chinese will build the six lane
highway, as well as the three bridges needed to link parts of
the city, which will reduce the need for boat transportation
by approximately 90 percent, Abe said.
LAGOS 00000076 004 OF 004
Cancer Rates On the Rise
------------------------
¶14. (C) Abe expressed concern that cancer rates in the Niger
Delta are on the rise. Based on the number of people he
knows who have cancer, the incidence of cancer has increased
dramatically in the last several years. Abe said he had just
heard that Presidential Advisor Oronto Douglas was suffering
from stomach cancer (Note: A story about Douglas' battle
with cancer, appeared that day in the Vanguard. Dr. Edit
Ikpi, Commissioner for Health of Cross River State, has also
told Pol-Econ Chief of his concern about the rising rates of
cancer he saw while in private practice. End Note)
¶5. (C) Comment: We are unable to confirm some of Abe's
claims, particularly those that relate to the security
equipment acquired by the JTF. However, both his prediction
that the President will do nothing to resolve the crisis in
the Niger Delta, and his observation that Niger Delta
indigenes are increasingly angry at that failure, are echoed
by many of our interlocutors.
BLAIR