Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 01ABUJA2445, NIGERIA: PRIORITIES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

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.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

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. #01ABUJA2445.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
01ABUJA2445 2001-09-25 15:07 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Abuja
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EAID NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: PRIORITIES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 
 
REF: STATE 140035 
 
 
1.  In response to Reftel information request, the USG does 
not currently have an environmental program in Nigeria, 
although USD 2 million has now been identified for an 
environmental program.  USAID/Nigeria ha prepared a scope of 
work for an overall assessment of the environment in Nigeria. 
 The assessment team, comprised of USAID/Global officers and 
private consultants, will likely be on the ground in November 
2001 with the report completed by February 2002.  The Mission 
believes that this assessment will identify many 
opportunities for U.S. assistance to Nigeria in confronting 
environmental problems.  Per reftel,s requests, the 
Mission,s preliminary thoughts on priority areas for 
environmental assistance are described here. 
 
 
2. Other international donors active in the environment in 
Nigeria include the European Union, World Bank, UNDP, NORAD 
and DFID.  There are also numerous local Non-Government 
Organizations predominantly active in oil pollution 
mitigation in the Niger Delta. 
 
 
---------------------- 
Oil Pollution 
---------------------- 
 
 
3. Nigeria derives 90 percent of its foreign exchange 
earnings and 80 percent of government revenues from oil 
exports.  The dominance of oil production in the economy has 
lessened the focus on environmental degradation resulting 
from oil sector activities.  But this degradation is great. 
Oil spills occur almost weekly in the Delta, caused primarily 
by smugglers and local communities who break into the 
pipeline network to steal oil.  Moreover, the dredging of 
canals to transport oil on barges to the Atlantic has 
expanded the reach of oil spills, widening their area of 
effect.  These canals have also allowed salt water from the 
Atlantic to encroach inland, destroying freshwater animal and 
plant life.  The impact of oil sector activities on coastal 
areas is severe. 
 
 
4. The GON allocated N1.7 billion (roughly USD 14 million) in 
both recurrent and capital expenditures to the Federal 
Ministry of Environment in FY2001.  This allocation 
represents only .2 percent of the total federal budget of 
N894 billion (roughly USD 7.5 billion).  However, it appears 
that the GON is increasing its focus on environmental 
degradation, particularly in the area of oil pollution.  The 
National Assembly, with support from the Federal Ministries 
of Environment, Health, and Transport, held an Oil Pollution 
Management Conference in August to raise the awareness of 
environmental problems in the Niger Delta and to harmonize 
the nation,s laws and regulations on oil pollution and its 
mitigation. 
 
 
5. The USG is also sponsoring several ad hoc activities 
targeting specific energy/oil sector environmental problems. 
First, USG agencies have identified USD 500,000 to be 
targeted for pipeline safety and security.  Other activities 
planned on an ad hoc basis include a Workshop on Removing 
Lead from Gasoline for sometime this fall and an Oil Spill 
Contingency Planning Workshop sponsored by the DOE/USAID in 
January 2002. 
 
 
6.  Another important oil-related issue is gas flaring, which 
has contributed to acid rain and has had tremendous negative 
impacts on agriculture and health in the Niger Delta.  The 
Canadian mission in Nigeria is providing assistance to the 
GON that helped lead the government to the decision to 
eradicate gas flaring by 2008.  Three Liquified Natural Gas 
(LNG) projects have been initiated in the South to utilize 
flared gas as well as the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) 
project. 
 
 
----------------- 
Renewable Energy 
----------------- 
 
 
7. Solar and hydroelectric power are two potential renewable 
energy sources in Nigeria.  Currently, renewable energies are 
primarily used for water pumps and irrigation, but their uses 
could be even more widespread.  Some of the existing hydro 
facilities are currently undergoing repair, and there are a 
number of additional sites and existing dams that have been 
surveyed as possible future hydro-electric power projects, 
but there are no immediate plans for development.  Through 
the Department of Energy and USAID, the U.S. Mission in 
Nigeria has a resident energy advisor and a renewable energy 
program.  This program aims to identify and remove existing 
obstacles to creating a commercially viable renewable energy 
industry in Nigeria.  Two workshops on renewable energy are 
taking place in 2001 (one occurred in March and the other in 
October), and a pilot solar power project will be initiated 
in Jigawa State.  The focus of the November workshop will be 
to draft a strategy for developing a commercially viable 
renewable energy industry in Nigeria.  There are currently 37 
companies selling solar PV equipment in Nigeria, but there 
are at present no fabricators or manufacturers of solar 
equipment in the country.  The workshop will identify 
barriers to the commercialization of renewable energy, such 
as the high tariffs on PV panels and other renewable energy 
components and subsidized fuel and energy prices. 
 
 
---------------------------------- 
Climate Change and Desertification 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
8. While not fully quantified, desertification is one of the 
most pressing environmental problems in Nigeria.  It is 
estimated that the country is losing approximately 351,000 
hectares of landmass to desert conditions annually. 
Population pressure, compounded by the influx of migrants 
from neighboring countries, and the grazing of live stock and 
razing of all available wood is increasing the rate of land 
loss.  Few alternative energy supplies are available and no 
programs exist to provide these marginal populations with 
power or gas for cooking.  Nigeria does have a few 
federally-funded research centers that have developed energy 
efficient cook stoves and solar powered ovens, but these new 
technologies have not been distributed or effectively 
marketed in the North.  Desertification in the north is also 
aggravated by forest depletion in the middle and southern 
regions of the country.  A long tradition of paper-making and 
furniture building in these areas has led to a serious 
depletion of forested areas.  Nigeria is one of 50 
participating countries within the UNFCC identifying sources 
of greenhouse gasses and encouraging transfers of clean 
technologies to developing countries.  A three day National 
Workshop on the Clean Development Mechanism was held in Abuja 
during the week of September 10-14. 
 
 
-------------------------------- 
Urban Areas and Waste Management 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
9. Urban growth in Lagos is expected to lead to an 
environmental disaster within the next 5-10 years. 
Exponential population growth and the fact that much of 
Lagos, located on islands, is sinking into the Atlantic 
because of erosion and rising waters will need to be 
addressed. 
 
 
10. Nigeria has substantial environmental pollution problems 
resulting from industrial effluents, agricultural chemicals 
and domestic sewage and waste.  In addition to untreated 
sewage pollution, pollution from textile factories and 
tanneries is commonly dumped in nearby rivers.  Lagos is the 
only city in Nigeria that maintains a sewage treatment 
facility, but even that is inadequate to keep up with the 
growing population.  The Federal Ministry of Environment has 
commissioned assessments to be undertaken in 12 urban areas 
(Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan, 
Maiduguri, Yola, Abeokute, Onitsha, Jos and Uyo Ilorin) to 
design and assess the feasibility of community-based waste 
management systems.  A pilot project for Community Waste 
Minimization through source reduction, reuse, and recycling 
has been initiated in a village suburb of Abuja.  Also, the 
U.S. Trade and Development Agency recently signed a grant 
agreement with the Imo-Abia Waste Management Commission to 
conduct a feasibility study on a regional waste management 
system. 
 
 
------------------------------------ 
Biodiversity and Wildlife Management 
------------------------------------ 
 
 
11. The continued loss of Nigeria's tropical forests and the 
continued popularity and economic necessity of "bushmeat" as 
a staple in people's diets have taken their toll on the 
country's biodiversity resources.  In 1992, forests accounted 
for only 9.61 percent of the total land area.  Nigeria has a 
diverse collection of flora and fauna, including 274 species 
of mammals, 830 species of birds and 5,081 plant species. 
Out of the animal species, .14 percent are threatened and .22 
percent are endangered.  Of the mammals, two primates are 
endangered: the white-throated guenon and Sclater's guenon. 
Anti-poaching laws exist, but there is little enforcement. 
 
 
11. The World Wildlife Fund,s effort in South Africa to 
redirect efforts from killing wildlife and game towards 
benefiting from tourism generated by wildlife parks and 
recreation has been very successful and could perhaps be 
repeated in Nigeria.  The Savannah Conservation group, part 
of the Ford Foundation, is working to encourage residents 
surrounding the Yankari Game Park Reserve to not intrude on 
the park to poach game.  The group is also implementing a 
loan program to assist these communities. 
Andrews