US embassy cable - 02ABUJA1081

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001081 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, EAID, ECON, PREL, NI 
SUBJECT: BAUCHI: A STATE THAT WORKS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
Summary 
 
 
1. (SBU) Ambassador Jeter visited Bauchi State from February 
10-12, accompanied by USAID A/DIR Suggs and Pol/OFF Kinder. 
In addition to private meetings with Governor Mu'azu, the 
Ambassador and his team visited several development projects 
including the Yankari Game Reserve, paid a courtesy call on 
the Emir, attended a state banquet and addressed the Bauchi 
State Executive Council.  The Ambassador also visited four 
local industries.  The trip was a success on two major 
fronts:  First, it dispelled perceptions of USG indifference 
toward Northern  Nigeria; secondly it enabled us to see 
first-hand the accomplishments of a state that works. End 
Summary 
 
 
Introduction 
 
 
2.(SBU)  Ending a ten year hiatus since the last 
Ambassadorial visit, Ambassador Jeter and Embassy staff 
visited Bauchi February 10th.  While in Bauchi, the 
Ambassador received a bird's eye view of the many 
developmental projects being undertaken by the State. 
 
 
A State on the Move 
 
 
3.(U) The Bauchi State Government has implemented a number of 
development projects aimed at reviving the state's agrarian 
economy and improving the welfare of the State's poor.  Major 
projects in the areas of rural road construction, village 
electrification, primary and secondary health care, and 
education are among the State's major accomplishments. 
Progress on rural road and electrification projects was 
evident as the team traveled far from Bauchi's capital. 
While rural electrificaion is often rare in Nigeria and in 
West Africa in general, over 100 of Bauchi's 200 villages 
have electricity. The roads the team traveled were also in 
extraordinarily good shape. 
 
 
4.(U) The Mission group also visited the State Hospital.  The 
hospital was attractive and well equipped. Some Nigerian 
hospitals are well equipped, but lack adequately trained 
staff to operate the equipment.  Governor Mu'azu has avoided 
this trap by using the lure of State pride and his personal 
charisma to attract qualified medical personnel to Bauchi, 
including professional indigenes of the State who have 
returned from overseas. 
 
 
5.(U)  The team also visited one of the Bauchi's three new 
model schools.  The schools were established to address an 
abysmal record of academic achievement in the State's primary 
and secondary schools.  According to Governor Mu'azu, only 
eight of the 8,000 students passed who sat for the Senior 
Secondary School Certificate Examination in 1999. Soon 
thereafter, the Governor began a program to revamp the entire 
state school system. The model schools represent one step in 
this process. The model schools enroll the state's "best and 
brightest", in order to train and prepare the most gifted 
students for future leadership positions within Bauchi and 
throughout Nigeria.  The team visited the girls' magnet 
school where they were greeted by a lively school body.  What 
the school lacked in facilities, the students made up with 
enthusiasm. The Ambassador used this occasion to inform the 
government of The Ambassador's Special Self- Help Program, 
and suggested the school apply to the program to procure 
reference books for its library. 
 
 
Come To Bauchi 
 
 
6.(U) Bauchi projects itself as "the Pearl of Tourism". While 
the sobriquet may be a bit hyperbolic, there is a grain of 
truth to it. Showcasing Bauchi's tourist industry, senior 
State government officials expertly served as tour guides to 
Yankari Game Park.  The game park has been under federal 
management since 1976.  According to Mu'azu, the number of 
visitors has declined during this period and the central 
government has done precious little to halt this slide or to 
maintain the facility. Governor Mu'azu believes that the 
state can do better and is attempting to regain control. He 
claims to have potential investors prepared to finance 
improvements, once the park is handed to the State 
government.  Mu'azu is optimistic that a radical facelift can 
be achieved in two years. The State has already begun 
modernizing guest accommodations, which when completed will 
offer a much more attractive and comfortable option for 
tourists.  The park has much potential, with over 50 species 
of wild animals and a plethora of wild birds.  While it will 
never rival the parks of Southern and Eastern Africa, 
Yankari's potential to attract domestic and regional tourists 
is large. 
 
 
Putting the People to Work 
 
 
7.(U) Visiting four local business ventures, the Embassy 
group was able to see the challenges to Bauchi's development 
but also the state's potential, particularly in 
agro-industry. 
8.(U) The Bauchi meat processing plant has received a TDA 
grant to conduct a feasibility study on the steps needed to 
modernize the facility and bring it to full production.  The 
cattle industry is an important sector of Bauchi's economy, 
yet the plant is barely functioning, processing less than a 
score of cattle each day. A/DIR Suggs raised the possibility 
of using USAID's Farmer-to-Farmer program to bring 
consultants to advise on management of the plant.  The 
current facilities are sound but much of the equipment, while 
serviceable, is outdated.  Once the study is complete and the 
plant is retooled, the marriage of cattle-rearing and 
industry should be a good one.  Revival of the meat 
processing plant will open significant export opportunities 
for Bauchi, including halal meat exports to traditional 
markets in North Africa and perhaps the Middle East. 
 
 
9.(U) The Bauchi Fertilizer Blending Company is another 
industry not yet meeting its full potential. Prior to 
Governor Mu'azu taking office, fertilizer was distributed 
based on personal loyalties rather than utility or 
maximization of output. As a result, the company fell 
dormant.  Noting that much of Bauchi's future lay in 
agriculture, the Governor arranged a N2.5 million soft loan 
for the company, which returned to operation during his first 
year in office. Morover, the governor has recently renewed 
subsidies to state farmers and established other controls to 
ensure equitable distribution. 
 
 
10.(U) The Ambassador also visited the Ramadan printing 
company.  The company was fully operable, with every 
available space filled with functioning equipment and busy 
employees.  The quality of the work was high.  Although it 
was February, the company was busy preparing 2002 calendars. 
There is no way of knowing if the printer was behind or if 
the orders came in late.  The printers, however, showed that 
they can move quickly by producing a booklet of the Embassy's 
visit prior to departure on February 12. 
 
 
11.(U) The last industry visited was Alind Nigeria,Ltd., 
makers of cable and conductors.  This company received a loan 
of N3.5 million from the Bauchi State Government.  The 
company's physical plant was fairly modern; however, it 
seemed poorly staffed and appeared to be at partial 
production. 
 
 
Governor Mu'azu--Trying Hard 
 
 
12.(SBU) Governor Mu'azu is the main force behind this 
activity.  A self-made, wealthy businessman, Mu'azu has a 
nationwide reputation as a hard worker.   This was evident 
when he returned to work for several hours after the State 
banquet he hosted for Ambassador Jeter, which lasted until 
11pm.  The Governor also has a reputation for fairness--only 
awarding contracts to companies with proven records, rather 
than using contracts to curry political favors.  Mu'azu has 
also surrounded himself with a progressive, well-educated and 
dedicated State Council.  The only woman on the Council, an 
activist Muslim, spoke out forcefully on the need for more 
female representation on the Executive Council and gently 
chided Governor Mu'azu for not doing more to make this 
happen.  State workers are paid on time and Mu'azu has also 
repaid much of the salary arrears due civil servants from 
previous administrations. A member of the PDP, Mu'azu 
campaigned hard for President Obasanjo during the last 
election and helped him carry the Northeast.  He believes 
that President Obasanjo can win the 2003 election, but must 
recover from the mistakes he has made handling recent crises, 
particularly the explosions in Lagos. Young, intelligent and 
personable Mu'azu is frequently mentioned as a potential 
presidential candidate for 2007 and beyond. 
 
 
Comment 
 
 
13.(U) With corruption, violence, and a basic lack of 
infrastructure prevalent in too many areas throughout 
Nigeria, the trip to Bauchi state was a welcome change. We 
were able to see many examples of how State and Local 
government in Nigeria can be a catalyst to make things work 
if the requisite political will is present.  No doubt there 
remains much to do in Bauchi; however, important first steps 
have been taken on what will be a long path to real 
development.  Mu'azu is proud of these achievements. 
 
 
14.(SBU) The Ambassador was able to encourage the Governor 
and his Council to continue their hard work, and offered to 
assist where possible.  In the final analysis this trip 
helped to eliminate the perception that the USG is 
disinterested in Bauchi, and more generally the North. 
Moreover, the trip was helpful in reinforcing our growing 
perception that development is more likely to occur when 
initiated at the local and state levels in Nigeria, 
particularly when there is good governance,honest leadership 
and public-private partnership. 
Jeter