US embassy cable - 02ABUJA1816

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ABUJA 001816 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR AF/PD, AF/W, R, R/MR, IIP, INR 
LAGOS FOR PAS, POL, RAO 
IBB FOR VOA'S ENGLISH TO AFRICA SERVICE, HAUSA SERVICE 
USEUCOM FOR PAO 
 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, NI 
SUBJECT:  COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA FLOWS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  There are important regional differences in 
the media in Nigeria that affect Embassy efforts to 
communicate U.S. views on the war on terror and other 
issues.  This cable profiles the communications and media 
environment in Nigeria's north, which is predominately 
Muslim and Hausa speaking. 
 
 
2.  While the print media are important in the highly 
literate south, newspapers and magazines have less 
influence in the predominately Muslim north.  Newspapers 
and magazines in English, moreover, have only minimal 
impact in the north, but the few Hausa language 
publications are influential. 
 
 
3.  In the north, radio is particularly important in 
reaching large audiences.  Both Nigerian and foreign 
stations, VOA included, have large listenerships.  Because 
of the north's relative lack of development, television 
does not yet reach large audiences.  But satellite 
broadcasts -- not only BBC and CNN but Arabic-language 
stations from the Middle East -- reach and influence the 
elite.  A few new Internet sites also reflect northern 
opinion and have elite followings, meaning their influence 
reaches far beyond the few individuals who have direct 
access to the Internet. 
 
 
4.  In addition to these media -- the kind traditionally 
scanned by the Embassy and by FBIS -- the flow of 
information and opinion also includes pamphlets, handbills, 
and audio cassettes.  These are mostly of an Islamic 
character.  A broad view of "information flows" could also 
include the influential teachings in the mosques and 
Islamic schools.  Some of these opinions in circulation 
come from visiting scholars from Algeria, Pakistan, Iran, 
and other countries of the Islamic world.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
5.  The media and other information sources that influence 
northern populations can be divided into four categories: 
(1) Government-owned or controlled.  Government newspapers 
go to great lengths to justify the policies and actions of 
government, but have little readership in the community. 
There are many state radio and television stations, 
generally one in every state, which have regional influence 
and serve as the voice of the government.  (2) 
Independents: The new independent broadcasters, while few, 
are more creative, but they are elitist and urban-centered. 
(3) International broadcasts:  The Hausa Services of the 
BBC, VOA, Radio Deutsche Welle, and recently Radio Iran, 
are very popular in northern Nigeria because of the wide 
usage of Hausa as a language of trade in the West African 
sub-region.  4) Sponsored pro-Islamic and pro-Christian 
local newspapers, magazines, literature, pamphlets, 
handbills, and Internet chat groups.  There is a sector of 
sponsored pro-Islamic media with grassroots influence that 
is primarily religious and anti-U.S. in character.  Some of 
them, especially the pro-Islamic sponsored literature, 
pamphlets and hand bills exploit the Hausa language to 
build a large readership and listenership.  Internet chat 
groups are also influential with the elite and political 
class. 
 
 
------------------ 
The Hausa Language 
------------------ 
 
 
6.  Hausa is spoken over a very large portion of West 
Africa.  It is a first language in the northern Nigerian 
states of Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kaduna, 
Kano, and Bauchi.  It is a universal lingua franca in the 
remainder of the northern states of Nigeria as well as in 
Niger. It is a second language for many people in Benin, 
Chad, Cameroon, and Togo, and it is also spoken in enclaves 
in Ghana, Ctte d'Ivoire, Libya, southern Nigeria, Sudan 
(Blue Nile Province), and Senegal.  Scholars note a 
"remarkable unity" of Hausa, although there are noticeable 
differences from west to east. 
 
 
7.  There are no good recent estimates of how many people 
speak Hausa as a first or second language, but the number 
of speakers may total 60 million. 
8.  Hausa is an official language in Nigeria.  It is taught 
in Nigerian secondary schools and universities and is the 
language of instruction for the elementary grades in Hausa- 
speaking areas. 
 
 
9.  More than half of the broadcasting on northern Nigerian 
radio and television stations is in Hausa, and Nigeria 
boasts several Hausa language newspapers as well as an 
ever-increasing number of publications of all types in 
Hausa.  In addition to Nigerian and Cameroonian radio 
stations, all international broadcasters with transmissions 
to West Africa have programs in Hausa.  These include the 
BBC, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, Radio Moscow, and 
Radio Peking. 
 
 
10.  Hausa has both a standardized Roman and Arabic 
orthography.  The former is based primarily around the Kano 
dialect. 
 
 
PRINT MEDIA 
----------- 
 
 
11.  The following newspapers are published in northern 
Nigeria. 
 
 
A.  MOST INFLUENTIAL PUBLICATIONS 
 
 
The Daily Trust (weekdays) and The Weekly Trust (weekends): 
The Trust newspapers, published in English in Abuja with 
very high editorial and graphic standards, have become 
highly influential because they are read by everyone in the 
capital -- legislators, bureaucrats, academic leaders, 
civil society groups, political leaders, and opinion makers 
in the north.  Their domestic news coverage is professional 
and non-partisan, but with strong loyalties to the north 
and to Islam.  Their international coverage is strongly 
anti-U.S.  Circulation is estimated at 12,000. 
 
 
Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo ("Truth is Better Than Money"):  Owned 
by a consortium of northern state governments, this sister 
newspaper to The New Nigerian is the oldest Hausa language 
newspaper in northern Nigeria.  For 61 years Gaskiya has 
reflected a pro-north, anti-West focus.  Circulation is 
estimated at 50,000. 
 
 
Al-Mizan:  This radical Islamic Hausa language weekly 
strongly communicates anti-American views and advocates an 
Islamic State.  Its editorial positions, good quality 
paper, and use of color give strong evidence of funding 
ties to Iran and Libya.  Sold for less than the other 
papers, it is published in Zaria on Friday, and it is 
characteristically sold to Friday Mosque congregations. 
Total print run is 12,000, but estimated readership is over 
60,000.  The newspaper is also available on the Internet 
through www.faithweb.com.  Al-Mizan is influential with 
radical Muslim youths.  Its founder and publisher is an 
Ahmadu Bello University trained economist and student of 
the Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Khomaini's alter ego in 
Nigeria, Shiekh El-Zak-Zaky.  This means the paper is 
directly or indirectly subsidized by Iran. 
 
 
B.  REGIONAL PRESENCE, BUT MINIMAL INFLUENCE 
 
 
The New Nigerian:  Published in Kaduna, a pro-north, 
government-owned Monday-thru-Sunday tabloid-sized English 
language newspaper.  Estimated circulation is 9,000.  The 
New Nigerian considers itself the official voice of the 
marginalized north.  Although it occasionally publishes 
statements by American officials and Washington File 
stories, this newspaper's heart of hearts is anti-American. 
Like all government-owned newspapers in Nigeria, the lack 
of editorial independence makes all its reporting flaccid, 
and a bloated staff spends a great deal of time worrying 
about the possible privatization of the newspaper and the 
end of government funding (read: staff and salary 
downsizing). 
 
 
The Triumph:  Kano-based pro-Islamic provincial English 
language newspaper published Monday-thru-Sunday.  Estimated 
circulation is 5,000 at best.  More than 300 employees 
staff this government-owned and government-controlled 
newspaper published on an ancient East German press.  It 
carries the standard of Islam and frequently publishes 
beyond-the-pale anti-American and anti-Israeli editorials 
and columns. 
 
 
The Nigeria Standard:  Published in Jos daily newspaper. 
Located in Plateau State, it is sympathetic to Christian 
and minority issues (est. circulation 5,000), earning it 
frequent scorn in the pages of the newspapers above. 
 
 
Dillaliya:  This Kaduna-based Hausa weekly is edited and 
published as a side business by Ibrahim Musa, the youthful 
editor of pro-Islamic Al-Mizan. Dillaliya has a more 
liberal editorial policy than Al-Mizan.  Like Al-Mizan, it 
thrives on street sales to young Muslims.  It also enjoys 
generous patronage from young northern politicians, who buy 
pages of the paper to promote themselves. Dillaliya, 
described as a newspaper for the promotion of commerce and 
political education, also enjoys the patronage of forward- 
looking and business-oriented young northern leaders. They 
view Dillaliya as an important vehicle for the educated and 
broad-minded, but marginalized northern youth.  Thus 
Ibrahim Musa has a high tolerance for cognitive dissonance. 
In the Al-Mizan office, he wears a turban, advocating anti- 
Western views and zero tolerance of non-Muslim opinions. 
At Dillaliya, he wears a different hat, promoting liberal 
views and full participation by Muslims in secular debates. 
Despite its efforts to be different, Dillaliya remains 
dependent on Al-Mizan's influence. 
 
 
Jakadiya:  Kaduna-based Hausa weekly financed by a group of 
young northern politicians opposed to the present political 
leadership in the north and at the center.  Estimated 
circulation is between 2000 and 3000 copies. 
 
 
Albishir/Alfijir:  The Triumph Company also publishes a 
Hausa bi-weekly, Albishir, and an Arabic-Hausa script 
(Ajami) version, Alfijir.  Both publications reflect the 
Triumph's pro-Islamic, anti-American, and anti-Israeli 
posture.  Although published in the city with the largest 
population of Hausa speakers in the country, less than 
4,000 copies of both Albishir and Alfijir are circulated 
each week, mostly as complimentary copies to senior 
citizens and Islamic scholars.  Street sales make up less 
than 30 percent of the total circulation because of the 
high degree of poverty and poor income levels amongst the 
target Hausa readers in Kano. 
 
 
The Path:  Sokoto-based Pro-Islamic and characteristically 
anti-American bi-weekly (est. circulation 3,000). 
 
 
The Legacy:  This Gusau-based weekly tabloid is published 
by a private company, but heavily subsidized by Governor 
Ahmed Sani's Shari'a government in Zamfara State.  The 
paper's editorials and columns are characteristically pro- 
Islam and anti-Israel, but open to U.S. views.  Estimated 
circulation is 2,000. 
 
 
---------------- 
ELECTRONIC MEDIA 
---------------- 
 
 
12.  FRCN Kaduna:  Northern Nigeria's most influential 
radio station was established in 1962 by the north's 
political legend and religious leader, Sir Ahmadu Bello, as 
the "Voice of the North."  FRCN Kaduna's influence has 
however diminished as it struggles to fight off Federal 
control of its editorial policy because of its merger with 
the Federal Radio network centrally controlled from Abuja. 
It also has the growing popularity of foreign stations that 
broadcast in Hausa to contend with.  Despite its diminished 
influence, FRCN Kaduna is staunchly pro-north and extremely 
anti-West.  Although technically owned by the Federal 
Government, FRCN enjoys generous and strong support from 
the various states that succeeded the defunct Northern 
Region in 1967, prominent northern business, and political 
groups. 
 
 
The Hausa Services 
------------------ 
13.  BBC, VOA, Radio Deutsche Welle, and Iran Radio Hausa 
Language services have the highest listenerships.  Radio 
Korea and China Radio International also broadcast in 
Hausa. 
 
 
The Internet 
------------ 
14.  www.gamji.com: This web page has a cult following and 
has become very influential with northern intellectuals, 
labor leaders, northern Muslim/Christian youth activists, 
NGO, and student groups.  Issues discussed are far ranging, 
but substantially anti-U.S., including events in the Middle 
East, September 11, and the war against terror. 
 
 
15.  www.almizan.faithweb.com:  This web page describes 
itself as "a Hausa newspaper for the Hausa-Speaking people 
in Africa and diaspora using the Internet."  This Internet 
version of the newspaper Al-Mizan (mentioned above) is 
slightly different and more colorful than the print 
version. 
 
 
Satellite Cable by Subscription 
------------------------------- 
 
 
16.  Television is popular in northern cities, where crowds 
of people often watch a single set when electricity is 
available.  Many local government authorities have 
established "television viewing centers" that allow many 
people to watch programs together. 
 
 
17.  Cable television subscriptions, bringing international 
stations to Nigerian viewers by satellite, have become more 
important, especially in affluent communities.  In addition 
to CNN, BBC, MTV and commercial movie channels, Nigeria's 
cable providers bundle free Arabic channels -- courtesy of 
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, and the United Arab 
Emirates -- into the channel mix.  ABG and MG Satellite 
Communications are northern Nigeria's main cable 
distributors for the Arabic channels. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
PAMPHLETS, LITERATURE, HAND BILLS, AUDIO CASETTES 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
 
18.  The "flow of information" in northern Nigeria also 
includes written and audio materials apparently funded 
elsewhere, and post has not yet been able to investigate 
these materials in a systematic way. 
 
 
19.  The sources of funding for these materials, including 
money to translate religious and ideological literature 
into Hausa and other local languages, vary.  They most 
likely come from Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Libya and North 
Korea. 
 
 
20.  Iran's effort is formally aimed at spreading the Shia 
form of Islam in local Koranic schools and Muslim 
populations.  Publications are part of an effort that 
includes placing teachers in Koranic schools and study 
groups in Iran.  The targets for Saudi Arabia's effort are 
Islamic clerics, Islamic scholars and the academic 
community.  Like the Iranian sponsorships, the Saudi effort 
includes scholarships for study at King Abdulaziz 
University in Saudi Arabia. 
 
 
21.  Sponsored translated materials circulate widely at 
mosques, town meetings, protest processions, local markets, 
and other religious gatherings.  The annual pilgrimage to 
Saudi Arabia (Hajj) also provides opportunity for wide 
distribution of Hausa translated materials. 
 
 
22.  China and North Korea mostly provide funding for 
translation of anti-American and anti-West ideological 
literature, which are sometimes given a religious tilt and 
distributed freely to unquestioning radical youths. 
 
 
23.  All these subsidized materials are distributed free, 
and they have gained wide readership because of low 
economic activity and high poverty levels in the rural 
north. 
 
 
Andrews