US embassy cable - 04ABUJA2051

UNCLAS ABUJA 002051 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, SENV, EAID, CH, NI 
SUBJECT: CHINA PROVIDES WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 
ASSISTANCE TO NIGERIA 
1.  The Chinese government is to provide 598 boreholes in 18 
states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The leader 
of a team of Chinese engineers, Mr. Dai Genbao, said that 
his team is currently conducting reconnaissance in the 
 
states as a prelude to the commencement of the water 
project.  The project came about following a recent visit to 
China by the Nigerian Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji 
Muktari Shagari.  Shagari, who is prone to exaggeration, 
said 60 percent of Nigeria's population currently has access 
to potable water, but the GON is committed to increasing 
that to 80 percent by 2007. 
 
2.  The boreholes are to be located in Benue, Kogi, Niger, 
Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Anambra, Imo, 
Enugu, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Rivers 
States.  In the FCT, the boreholes will be located in Abaji, 
Bwara, Gwagwalada, and Kuje. 
 
3.  Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) spends 
from 5000 to 20000 USD per borehole it commissions as part 
of its Humanitarian Action projects.  Assuming the costs to 
the Chinese project will be similar, the value of this aid 
ranges from 3 to 12 million USD.  By way of comparison, ODC 
has a proposal to fund for 20-30 boreholes and the 
Ambassadors' Special Self-Help program is funding an 
additional 20. 
 
4.  Comment:  This project, another in a series of steps to 
strengthen Nigerian-Chinese relations, has the potential to 
build a significant amount of goodwill among the Nigerian 
populace toward China.  Multiple contacts from within the 
GON and international donor community have commented that 
while much American aid comes with preconditions, such as 
respect for human rights, the Chinese attach no such strings 
to their assistance.  End comment. 
 
CAMPBELL