NIGERIA: ECOWAS MORATORIUM ON SMALL ARMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001249



SIPDIS





BRUSSELS FOR HINSON-JONES

BANJUL FOR DCM

PM FOR WEINSTEIN, SHAUNFIELD

AF/RA FOR BITTRICK, WALSER





E.O. 12598: 6/01/06

TAGS: PARM, NI, ECOWAS

SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ECOWAS Moratorium on Small Arms



REF: STATE 86450





CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER, REASONS 1.5 (B)

AND (D).





1. (C) SUMMARY: AF/RA LTC Mike Bittrick and PolMilOff

called on the newly created Nigerian National Committee on

the ECOWAS Moratorium on Small Arms and Light Weapons on

May 16. Chairman Musa Yahaya discussed the history of the

ECOWAS Moratorium and gave a description of the role the

new Nigerian Committee planned to play. He emphasized

dialogue with manufacturers and exporting states, and

requested technical assistance. Post received reftel on

funds for stockpile destruction assistance after the

meeting occurred. However, Post does not believe that

Nigeria has weapons stockpiles awaiting destruction. END

SUMMARY.





2. (U) AF/RA Michael Bittrick and PolMilOff paid a courtesy

call (the first received by the Committee) on Nigeria's new

National Committee on the ECOWAS Moratorium on Small Arms

and Light Weapons. Committee Chairman Musa Yahaya and

committee members Police Deputy Commissioner Lawrence Alobi

(a long-time contact of Embassy RSO),a representative of

the Nigerian State Security Service, and a Customs Service

representative were in attendance. The Commission also

includes representatives from the National Intelligence

Agency, Immigration, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the

military, but since the Committee was only recently

inaugurated by President Obasanjo (May 7),not all members

were present. The Committee is housed in the Ministry of

Cooperation and Integration in Africa, and reports to the

Minister of that government agency.





3. (U) Chairman Yahaya outlined the history of the ECOWAS

Moratorium, noting it was signed by Heads of State on

October 31, 1998, and that a Code of Conduct was signed in

1999. Yahaya said the objectives of the Nigerian Committee

include: establishment of a culture of peace (meaning a

public affairs drive, seminars, and state-level offices);

facilitation of dialogue with producers and suppliers;

enhancing weapons control at border posts; establishment of

a database (for information and to house a weapons

registry); collection and destruction of illicit small

arms; and mobilization of resources (essentially, requests

for assistance from donor nations and manufacturers).





4. (U) Yahaya noted that, while small arms were a major

problem in West Africa, the sub-region did not produce many

weapons. There was a need to reduce the role of weapons in

solving conflicts in Africa, and to "find a more dignified

way," such as mediation and dialogue. Therefore, the

Committee would work with manufacturers and exporting

nations to reduce the number of illicit arms in

circulation. Yahaya went on to say that the Committee

would seek technical assistance and train-the-trainer

programs, and asked that Washington consider providing

support.





5. (C) Bittrick noted that, in some cases, states in the

sub-region had sought to purchase or import arms without

coordinating with the ECOWAS Secretariat, and that it was

difficult for the U.S. to press the issue since not all

ECOWAS states had ratified the Moratorium. Yahaya said

that this was why the Committee would seek dialogue with

producer states, manufacturers and others, and asked that

an effort be made to coordinate arms importation requests

both with national committees and with ECOWAS.





6. (C) Bittrick then asked if illicit arms were a

significant problem in Nigeria, and how illicit arms came

into circulation. Deputy Commissioner of Police Alobi

explained that the Nigerian Firearms Act defined two types

of weapons, large arms (military-type weapons) prohibited

except by decision of the President, and personal arms

("like shotguns for hunting") which could be approved by

the Police. Alobi said that illicit arms enter Nigeria

through border towns, usually over land routes, though some

are produced locally (mostly single-shot handguns and

rifles). He noted that illicit arms in Nigeria were a

serious contributor to crime, and in some cases, to inter-

communal conflict. (DAO NOTE: Criminals possess large

quantities of illicitly obtained Nigerian military and

police weapons as well as weapons smuggled into Nigeria

from neighboring states. END DAO NOTE.)





7. (C) COMMENT: Nigeria's National Committee was formed

just four months before the expiration/renewal date of the

ECOWAS Moratorium. It will take some time for the

Committee to establish itself, and to identify its needs.

Until that happens, the Embassy believes it would be

inadvisable to begin a discussion of technical assistance

for stockpile management and destruction. However, we will

continue to monitor the Committee's progress, and will seek

additional information on the issue of illicit small arms

and light weapons in Nigeria, as the Committee pursues its

mandate.





8. (U) LTC Bittrick did not clear this cable before

departing Abuja.





9. (U) Freetown Minimize Considered.