US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1761

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001761 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV, SOCI, PREL, NI 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WATER AND WASTE-WATER MANAGEMENT, 
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS 
 
 
1.  Summary.  The Lagos State Commissioner for the 
Environment named solid waste management as the state's most 
pressing environmental problem.  Lagos, a state of an 
estimated 15 million people, produces approximately 10,000 
metric tons of solid waste per day with virtually no capacity 
for its disposal.  The commissioner asked for assistance from 
the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop more 
landfills, automate the clearing of drains, and systematize 
solid waste collection.  He ranked waste water disposal, 
pollution reduction, and sewage treatment as other urgent 
priorities.  Political maneuvering, particularly as 2007 
elections move closer, is likely to affect the state's 
ability to reform its waste management systems.  End Summary. 
 
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Background 
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2.  As a result of a USTDA visit to Lagos State earlier this 
year, USTDA sent Leo LaRochelle and Charles Peterson, 
consultants from Performance Technology, Inc., on a 
definitional mission (DM) to identify and recommend 
environmental projects for USTDA consideration.  During the 
week of October 24, the consultants met several NGO 
representatives, the CEO of Lagos State Water Corporation 
(LSWC), state government officials, the IFC, and Earth Care, 
an American company currently working on a solid waste 
management project in Lagos State. 
 
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Solid Waste Management Most Pressing Environmental Concern 
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3.  The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment 
attributed most of the state's environmental maladies to poor 
solid waste management.  The state daily produces 10,000 
metric tons of solid waste yet has no waste management 
facility.  Raw sewage is simply dumped into area creeks and 
bays.  The commissioner was optimistic about a 
"waste-to-wealth" project by an Arkansas firm, Earth Care, 
which he claimed would daily convert 2000 metric tons of 
solid waste to usable fertilizer.  The project is scheduled 
to begin production in early 2006.  The state will provide 
the land and a bank guarantee, and has promised to pay for a 
year's worth of product if unsold.  (Note.  In a separate 
meeting, Earth Care said projected production was 1500 metric 
tons per day of compost, which is not as nutrient rich as 
fertilizer.  They also noted that the technology is 
relatively new and that projected production was an 
optimistic estimate.  End Note.) 
 
4.  The commissioner complained of a lack of landfill sites. 
The state has three, one of which accepts 70 per cent of all 
of Lagos's waste but is scheduled to close in five years. 
The commissioner told us the state intends to contract with 
Alabama's Marathon Equipment Co. to purchase equipment to 
operate 3 waste transfer stations, but the state actually 
needed six at minimum. 
 
5.  Enforcement of environmental regulations and use of 
proper dump facilities are also concerns.  A representative 
from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) 
said that, currently, it had 380 staff monitoring over 4,000 
industrial complexes.  Because of an inadequate logistical 
infrastructure, LASEPA could not adequately monitor all 
facilities.  For proper environmental regulation, he said 
LASEPA staff needed more vehicular communication equipment. 
He also noted a lack of state-wide standards, the absence of 
any study of hazardous waste management, and he asked for 
assistance in training  LASEPA staff. 
 
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Water Production Insufficient to Supply All Users 
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6.  Olumuyiwa Coker, CEO of LSWC, explained that all areas of 
water production in Lagos State were sorely deficient.  LSWC 
is responsible for approximately 80% of current water 
production; however, their delivery covers only about 30-35% 
of customers, the rest being served by private vendors whose 
water is of dubious quality.  For comparison, he provided 
figures showing that the U.K.'s Severn Trent water supply 
works, serving nearly 9 million customers, comprises 41 water 
reservoirs, 188 ground water works, and produces 403 million 
gallons per day (MGD).  By contrast, while serving an 
estimated 15 million customers, Lagos State has 0 reservoirs, 
16 functional ground water works, and produces 100 MGD. 
 
7.  Coker said LSWC's first priority is water production, 
specifically acquiring a reliable power source to drive the 
water works.  He identified capacity building as the most 
productive area for international assistance and asked that 
USTDA send experts from the U.S. to train LSWC management. 
(Note.  Control of waste water management was recently 
legislated out of the hands of the Ministry for the 
Environment and handed over to Coker's LSWC.  The Ministry 
refuses to let go easily, and major projects are likely to 
get hung up in the jurisdictional dispute.  End Note.) 
 
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Consultants Recommend a Common Effluency Treatment Plant 
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8.  USTDA consultants concluded that Lagos State's needs are 
pressing and that USTDA should take a serious look at 
assisting Lagos by helping it conduct feasibility studies or 
provide for capacity building opportunities.  USTDA 
representative Pierce Davis is scheduled to visit in early 
December to follow up on the DM.  The consultants suggested 
that a study could be done on one of the more promising 
ventures: an industry-led Common Effluency Treatment Plant 
(CETP) that would involve a strong private sector component 
to pay for transfer of waste water to a common treatment 
site.  They added, however, that current World Bank (the Bank 
is the largest donor in this area) programs in this area are 
rehabilitative in nature, involving repairs to pipes and 
other similar projects.  Thus a project for a totally new 
facility would run against the World Bank position to some 
degree and may beg the question of sustainability. 
 
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Comment 
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9.  With people starting to gear up for the 2007 elections, 
the mood in the government offices was one of impermanence. 
The Commissioner for the Environment repeated he had only a 
year left to put important projects into effect.  A visit to 
the new Commissioner for Budget and Planning yielded the same 
impression: the Commissioner referred to disputes with the 
President over withholding of excess monies received from 
increased world oil prices.  When asked about sustainability 
of projects, he demurred, mentioning the upcoming elections. 
Given the climate, the realities of electoral uncertainties 
must be factored into USTDA's assessments of any projects in 
Lagos State. 
BROWNE