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Viewing cable 07ABUJA2260, THE LEBANESE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07ABUJA2260 2007-10-24 13:44 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Abuja
VZCZCXRO8269
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #2260/01 2971344
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241344Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1278
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 8139
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002260 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EINV EMIN ENRG PGOV NI
 
SUBJECT: THE LEBANESE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA 
 
REF: ABUJA 2191 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  The majority of the wealthy Lebanese business 
community left Nigeria during the military period and only remnants 
remain.  Successive poorly planned and executed government policies, 
such as government subsidies and import bans, have hurt local 
industries.  The Nigerian mining sector is rich in high value 
minerals, but investors face high risks and so far - little reward. 
Nigerian leadership will need to address the concerns of the 
business community if it is serious in reaching the heights the new 
administration has suggested.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On October 4, 2007, Charge d'Affaires and Econoff met with 
Gabriel Ashkar, a well-placed Lebanese businessman based in Kano. 
His family settled in Kano in the 1920's, and began business 
ventures in processing vegetable oil then expanding into a number of 
industries, including breweries and mining. 
. 
Nigeriazation of the Economic Elites 
------------------------------------ 
. 
 
3. (SBU) Ashkar reviewed the interesting but sad history of 
Nigeria's Lebanese community.  During the period of successive 
military governments a large portion of the "elite" and wealthy 
Lebanese community left Nigeria.  Those remaining are largely 
uneducated and will never be able reach the heights before the 
military government took power, Ashkar said.  The military 
governments were bent on changing the business landscape by creating 
laws that replaced expat industrial leadership with Nigerians.  He 
was critical of government subsidies and import bans especially when 
they did not even attain the stated goal of greater control of the 
economy by Nigerian businessmen. 
 
4. (SBU) The import bans created and continue to protect industries 
that cannot be sustained.  Kano did not benefit much from these 
policies because it is only a trading center.  The "false economy" 
created by the subsidies and import bans have left industries in the 
north noncompetitive.  Ashkar said if subsidies are removed the 
industries for which they were created (except textiles) will not 
last more than a few years and definitely not in a competitive 
environment.  He contended that the bans should have been focused on 
those products or areas where Nigeria has a comparative advantage, 
and Nigeria cannot insulate itself from global competition.  In 
addition, he cited a number of impediments to business - crumbling 
infrastructure, lack of power, expensive telecommunications and 
transport.  GON policies on manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and 
information technology are woefully inadequate, and local businesses 
can not continue to rely on individual generators and personal 
communications systems. 
. 
Nigeria's Mining Sector 
----------------------- 
. 
5. (SBU) Ashkar provided a snapshot into the mining sector, where he 
has substantial investments.  Nigeria has some of the highest 
quality minerals (i.e. granite, gold, tin) in the world, and in 
large quantities that could be exploited and used as a catalyst for 
development.  His investments are approximately $40 million in tin 
mining and smelting started in 1988, and he owns 40% of Consolidated 
Tin Mines with the Nigerian Mining Corporation (NMC), a state owned 
corporation.  Ashkar reported that in the short-term he has not seen 
any tangible returns, and lamented that mining is a long-term 
investment.  He is seeking to get out of the mining business and NMC 
through the Bureau of Public Enterprises who is trying to sell 
Consolidated Tin Mines.  He hopes to recoup between $7-8 million, 
far less than his initial $40 million investment. 
. 
Is There Hope in the Mining Sector? 
----------------------------------- 
. 
6. (SBU) Due to the lack of accurate geospatial information, Ashkar 
believes the only way to realistically exploit the mining sector 
would be for the GON to fully survey the topography through 
satellite and GPS mapping, followed by preliminary exploration to 
determine where the minerals are and in what quantities.  The GON 
should then hold an international conference to attract large 
multinationals that have the money to invest over the long term. 
. 
Business Community Chagrined 
---------------------------- 
. 
7. (SBU) Comment.  Ashkar is representative of a number of long-time 
Nigeria "hands" who have become more and more disappointed with the 
business climate in Nigeria.  This group contains Indians, Lebanese 
and others that have lived and invested in Nigeria from 
pre-independence days.  Ashkar and others have seen local industries 
devastated by ill-considered and poorly implemented policies.  As a 
 
ABUJA 00002260  002 OF 002 
 
 
result, their desire to continue business operations has waned.  If 
Nigeria hopes to improve its business conditions, it must address 
the concerns of these Nigeria "hands."  End Comment. 
 
PIASCIK