US embassy cable - 05ABUJA60

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR 
GENEVA FOR USTR ALICIA GREENIDGE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, WTO, NI 
SUBJECT: WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS: U.S. MARKET-ACCESS 
PRIORITIES IN NIGERIA 
 
REF:  STATE 270998 
 
1.   The following responds to ref's request for information 
about U.S. service suppliers' market access in Nigeria. 
This cable ranks Nigerian sectors' level of priority for 
U.S. service providers (a value from 1 to 5, with "1" being 
a top priority for U.S. service suppliers).  This rating is 
based on the number of U.S. companies operating in Nigerian 
service sectors, as well as on the number of U.S. firms 
contacting the U.S. Mission Nigeria including the U.S. 
Commercial Service-Nigeria about establishing operations in 
Nigeria.  This survey also assigns an informal ranking 
(high, medium, or low) for Nigeria's current level of market 
openness to U.S. service providers. 
 
2.    U.S. firms' access to Nigerian service sectors: 
 
-- Legal services (3, medium) 
 
-- Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services (3, medium) 
 
-- Taxation services (3, medium) 
 
-- Architectural services (4, medium) 
 
-- Engineering and integrated engineering services (2, 
medium) 
 
-- Urban planning and landscape architectural services (5, 
medium) 
 
-- Computer and related services (1, high) 
 
-- Research and development services (5, medium) 
 
-- Real estate services (5, low) 
 
-- Rental/leasing services (5, low) 
 
-- Advertising services (5, medium) 
 
-- Market research and public opinion, polling services (3, 
medium) 
 
-- Management consulting services (2, high) 
 
-- Technical testing and analysis services (including energy- 
related testing services) (1, high) 
 
-- Services incidental to agriculture, hunting and forestry, 
and fishing (4, high) 
 
-- Services incidental to mining (2, high) 
 
-- Energy services (including land site preparation, 
drilling, and plugging; and excluding services incidental to 
energy distribution) (1, medium, with substantial concerns 
regarding pending legislation) 
 
-- Placement and supply services of personnel (3, medium) 
 
-- Investigation and security (2, high) 
 
-- Related scientific and technical consulting services (2, 
high) 
 
-- Maintenance and repair of equipment (2, high) 
 
-- Building-cleaning services (5, low) 
 
-- Photographic services (4, medium) 
 
-- Packaging services (5, medium) 
 
-- Printing, publishing (5, medium) 
 
-- Convention services (5, medium) 
 
-- Courier services (express delivery) (1, high) 
 
-- Telecommunication services (1, high) 
 
-- Audiovisual services (1, high) 
 
-- Construction and related engineering (4, medium) 
 
-- Distribution services, including commission agents' 
services, wholesale trade services, retailing services, and 
franchising (4, low) 
-- Educational services, including higher education 
services, adult education (i.e., vocational), other 
education services (testing and computer or language 
training) (3, high) 
 
-- Environmental services (wastewater treatment, sanitation, 
protection of ambient air and climate, remediation and clean 
up, noise and vibration abatement, and biodiversity 
protection) (3, medium) 
 
-- Insurance services (2, medium) 
 
-- Banking and other financial services including securities 
(3, medium to high) 
-- Tourism and travel-related services (including hotels and 
restaurants, catering, travel agencies and tour operator 
services, and tourist guide services) (3, medium) 
-- Recreation and sporting services (other than audiovisual 
services), including entertainment services (including 
theatre, live bands, and circus services); news agency 
services; libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural 
services; sporting and other recreational services (5, high) 
 
3. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) 
Decree of 1995 allows 100-percent foreign ownership of firms 
outside the petroleum sector; investment in the oil and gas 
sector is limited to joint ventures or new production- 
sharing contracts or agreements.  Industries considered 
crucial to Nigeria's national security, such as firearms, 
ammunition, and military and paramilitary apparel, are 
reserved for domestic investors.   Foreign investors must 
register with the NIPC after incorporation under the 
Companies and Allied Matters Act. The act prohibits the 
nationalization or expropriation of foreign enterprises. 
 
4.   The U.S. Commercial Service office in Nigeria publishes 
annually a comprehensive overview of Nigeria's commercial 
environment in its "Country Commercial Guide" for Nigeria. 
The most recent version of this publication can be viewed at 
http://www.buyusa.gov/nigeria/en/. 
 
CAMPBELL