Cablegate: The Charge Makes Courtesy Call On Minister Of

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUJA #1505 1660635
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150635Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6092
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 4347
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC

UNCLAS ABUJA 001505

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FROM OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS, LAGOS

USDA FOR FAS FAA/AREA DIRECTOR RANDALL HAGER,
USDA FOR FAS ITP/PATRICIA SHEIKH, THOMAS POMEROY
USDOC FOR FCS/OIO/BORR, MSTAUNTON

E.O. 12958, N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON PARM TBIO ETRD NI
SUBJECT: THE CHARGE MAKES COURTESY CALL ON MINISTER OF
ENVIRONMENT

1. On June 7, 2006, The Charge' called on Minister of
Environment Chief Helen Esuene in response to her April 6
letter to the Ambassador requesting U.S. collaboration on
proposed agricultural anti-desertification projects in 11
northern states. AgAttache accompanied the Charge'.
Permanent Secretary Sam Olu Adekunle and Emeka Mba, Managing
Director of Framan Nigeria, also attended.

2. Agridev Israel, a privately owned agricultural
development company based in Israel and its local partner
Framan Nigeria, and state governments, are planning to
implement agro-industrial clusters in 11 northern states to
stop desert encroachment, improve agricultural productivity
and generate employment as part of a project called "Desert
to Food Program".

3. The Minister highlighted the following areas of priority
for her Ministry; land-reclamation, environmental pollution
in coastal areas and solid waste management in urban
centers. She said desert encroachment was becoming a serious
problem in several northern states and something must be
done to stop the loss of arable land. Previous government
interventions to address this concern failed, she said. As a
result of these past experiences, the government is looking
towards a private sector and government partnership to
implement this project. The Minister said she would like to
see the project launched before the current administration's
"eleven months in office" run out.

4. The Minister said the Federal Government is committed to
the project and would like the support of the international
community, particularly the United States. She added that
President Obasanjo has endorsed the plan and would like to
see "results". (Comment: Framan Nigeria previously told
AgAttache that the government has earmarked 300 billion
naira ($2.3 billion) for this project in 2006 and the
government plans to allocate an additional 300 billion naira
in 2007. End comment).

5. The Charge' told the Minister that the United States
views improved agricultural productivity and the anti-
desertification program as important issues. He added that
the United States Mission would be happy to collaborate with
the Ministry of Environment, where feasible, within the
development program for Nigeria. The Minister reported that
a planning committee headed by a representative from the
Ministry of Environment is to organize an international
conference in September in Abuja to officially launch the
project.

6. The Charge' used the occasion to encourage passage of
GON's national biosafety legislation which has been stagnant
for several years. The Minister chairs the National
Biosafety Committee (NBC), responsible for developing and
administering Nigeria's national biosafety legislation.
Years ago, the NBC drafted biosafety legislation with
support from USAID through the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA). However, the NBC has been
inactive. As a result, the draft legislation is yet to be
presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval
before going to the National Assembly for legislative
consideration. The Minister said the draft legislation is
not a controversial issue and should move forward. She
tasked the Permanent Secretary to look into the matter and
"fast-track" the draft biosafety legislation.

ANYASO

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