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 04LAGOS1611, MORE SCRATCH CARD FEVER: THE PLANNED JANUARY

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. #04LAGOS1611.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04LAGOS1611 2004-08-05 13:37 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Lagos
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

051337Z Aug 04
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001611 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS FCC, EX-IM, AND OPIC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECPS ECON EINV NI
SUBJECT: MORE SCRATCH CARD FEVER: THE PLANNED JANUARY 
2005 BAN ON CARD IMPORTS 
 
REF: (A) 04 LAGOS 1562, (B) 04 LAGOS 1364, (C) 04 ABUJA 
 
1323 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: As the GON's January 1, 2005 import 
ban on recharge cards draws near, the Nigerian 
Communications Commission is beginning to license 
companies to produce the cards locally. Wary of the 
reliability of most local card producers, major 
Nigerian telecom companies are exploring alternatives 
to recharge cards. Virtual-top-up and electronic 
vouchering seem to be the favored options.  End 
summary. 
 
2. (U) Readily available "scratch cards" or recharge 
cards account for much of the success of the Nigerian 
GSM (Ref A), fixed wireless, and international call 
markets.  The cards allow customers to pay for calls up- 
front - a practical means of communication and payment 
in Nigeria's largely cash-based economy. 
 
3. (SBU) In May, the Communications Minister announced 
an import ban on scratch cards effective January 1, 
2005.  In a recent conversation with Econoff, 
government-owned Nigerian Security Printing and Minting 
Company (the Mint) official Don Etim welcomed the ban 
and confirmed the Mint's interest in getting into 
scratch card production.  The Mint sees itself as well- 
positioned to enter the market since it already prints 
secure paper products such as currencies and entry 
visas (Ref B).  Etim said the NCC will license four 
companies to manufacture scratch cards in Nigeria. 
 
4. (U) The NCC, however, apparently has not yet decided 
to limit the number of licenses.  MTN Chief Corporate 
Affairs Executive, Joke Giwa, and Odu'a Telecoms Ltd. 
(Oduatel) General Manager, Olusegun Owolabi, told 
Econoff in separate meetings that they had not heard 
about such a limitation.  Owolabi asserted the NCC is 
likely to consider all applications for production 
before announcing the number of licensees. 
 
5. (U) Recently, the NCC announced 27 recharge card 
manufacturers or distributors met the criteria to pre- 
qualify for production licenses.  These companies have 
until August 9, 2004 to submit applications for the 
next and final stage of "processing the applications". 
 
6. (U) While telecom company officials we talked to do 
not trust Nigerian local producers of scratch cards, 
they also do not seem concerned about the ban.  They 
are confident about identifying alternatives to scratch 
cards.  Industry sources have reported possible 
substitutes like MTN's "Virtual Top-Up" (VTU) 
technology, and electronic vouchering systems.  A pilot 
VTU scheme is now available to selected MTN customers. 
VTU users are expected to hold bank accounts through 
which electronic funds are drawn to replenish 
customers' calling cards. 
 
7. (SBU) Telecom contacts, however, recognize the 
limitation of the VTU in a cash economy like Nigeria, 
and that electronic vouchering may be more appealing to 
most subscribers.  MTS First Wireless (MTS) plans to 
use such a system.  Customers will buy calling time 
from a company-licensed dealer.  They will be given 
vouchers with code numbers that customers will key into 
a phone to recharge minutes.  French company Ingenico 
is reportedly partnering with Chams Nigeria Ltd. for a 
similar system. 
 
8. (SBU) In the meantime, most operators seem to have 
stockpiled cards in anticipation of the ban.  (Comment: 
The recent shortage of MTN scratch cards (Ref A) is 
unrelated to this stockpiling.  MTN is one of the few 
companies we spoke with not stockpiling cards.) 
Oduatel has a one-year supply of recharge cards in 
country, while MTS technical engineers said the company 
has enough recharge cards in stock to tide them over 
until it adopts an alternative means of payment. 
 
9. (SBU) MTN's Giwa said the company will consider 
investing in its own production facility in Nigeria if 
no credible manufacturer or supplier of secure recharge 
cards emerges by November of this year.  Giwa welcomed 
interest by U.S. companies.  (Comment: MTN's 
traditional scratch card provider, Nitecrest, is one of 
the 27 applicants for a production license in Nigeria.) 
Giwa said she questions the product quality of any 
company already operating in the secure printing 
business in Nigeria.  MTN's main concern is ensuring a 
secure product, a factor of importance to MTN's 
credibility. 
 
10. (U) Nigeria's four licensed GSM operators import an 
estimated 10-20 million scratch cards per month that 
generate naira 10-20 billion ($76 million to $152 
million) in monthly revenues.  In addition, millions of 
long distance, international, and fixed wireless 
recharge cards are imported for use in the local 
market.  The recharge card ban could disrupt the flow 
of billions of dollars in revenue and the life style of 
millions of telecoms customers across Nigeria if 
Nigerian producers cannot supply the market and 
alternative means of payment do not take hold soon. 
 
11. (SBU) Comment:  The telecoms sector is Nigeria's 
most profitable one after the oil sector.  Its growth 
potential is evident.  (MTN alone projects a subscriber 
base of 14 million for itself.  It now serves 2.3 
million in the country.) The sector is fast-paced and 
ever changing; innovation may obviate need for recharge 
cards in the not-too-distant future.  Whether the 
recharge card ban will foster local production or the 
use of substitutes will be another Nigerian test of the 
infant industry argument that underpins the numerous 
bans instituted by the Obasanjo administration (Ref C). 
If this ban follows suit with the others, local 
producers by themselves will not be able to take up the 
slack.  Unless substitutes to scratch cards also become 
available, this ban will likely have a negative effect. 
End comment. 
 
BROWNE