USAID/OTI Nigeria Program Description: May 1999
A Window For Change
The June 1998 death of
Nigerian head of state Sani Abacha unleashed unexpected and
extraordinary opportunities for a transition to civilian rule and
democracy. Retired General Olesegun Obasanjo won Nigeria's February
1999 presidential elections and takes office in May 1999, ending 15
years of military rule. Given its vast size and wealth in natural
resources and human capital, a democratic Nigeria could be a force
for stabilization and an engine of economic growth for much of the
continent. The challenges are great, however, with long-standing
religious and ethnic tensions, endemic corruption, a weak economy,
and an unpredictable military being among the factors that make this
transition extremely fragile.
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| The OTI "Training for Good Governance" program in Nigeria effectively trained all governors, all State and Naitonal Assembly members, and all local officials for the roles in the new government. Pictured above are Newly elected legislators from the state of Enugu. |
Working in concert with other parts of USAID and the U.S.
government, OTI has quickly developed a program designed to sustain
the current momentum toward national reconciliation and a
democratically elected government. Its primary objectives are (1) to
prevent military obstruction of the transition to civilian rule; and
(2) to support the Nigerian movement for structural economic and
political reform. OTI has established a central office in the
Lagos-based USAID mission and regional offices in Port Harcourt,
Abuja and Kano.
OTI's initial activities are targeted in the
following areas:
- Training for Good Governance: OTI
is joining forces with the USAID mission to train election
winners and losers in areas including constituency building,
transparency, structural reform and local capacity building.
- Delta Pilot Projects: OTI is
working in the conflict-prone and strategic Delta region and
other potentially volatile areas to facilitate partnerships
among local communities, the private sector and local
governments. OTI will provide seed capital for a development
fund with a tripartite management from civil society, oil
companies and local government representatives for targeted
microenterprises and public services.
- Coalitions for Reform: OTI is
working to mobilize national consensus on key issues, and
develop key constituencies in favor of economic and political
reform.
- Civil-Military Affairs: OTI is
working with the State Department, the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and the NSC to facilitate early engagement with the government
and civil society on issues of civil-military reform.
OTI's partners in Nigeria also include the
USAID Mission, U.S. Embassy, U.S. Information Service, and
implementing contractor Louis Berger International. It expects to be
working extensively with national and local government
representatives, civil society, and the private
sector.
OTI Assistance FY 1998: $39,000
Estimated OTI Assistance in FY 1999: $5-7,000,000
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