NIGERIA: NASCO GROUP (NIGERIA) LIMITED

S E C R E T ABUJA 003030

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EB/ESC/ESP, S/CT AND AF/W


E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X5
TAGS: PTER PREL ECON ETTC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NASCO GROUP (NIGERIA) LIMITED


REF: A)STATE 165061, B) STATE 10592, C0 ABUJA 187


CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER. REASON
1.6X5.



1. (S) During an October 10 conversation, Ambassador
Jeter informed National Security Advisor Aliyu
Mohammed that the NASCO parent company based in Turkey
and many of its subsidiaries and affiliate companies
have been jointly designated by the Italian and United
States governments as involved in terrorist financing.
The Ambassador stressed that NASCO had links to Al
Queda and other known terrorist organizations, thus
the basis for NASCO's designation.



2. (S) Ambassador Jeter told Mohammed that NASCO
subsidiaries in Nigeria were not yet designated. Given
the large role the NASCO group of companies plays in
the economy of Plateau State this was salutary
economically; moreover, the non-designation also
helped Nigeria politically. However, the Ambassador
emphasized the investigative process was not yet
complete. If the use of any of these subsidiaries for
terrorism financing were to be detected, the companies
would be swiftly quickly placed on the list.
Moreover, since many of the other NASCO companies were
now designated, NASCO principals might try to use the
non-designated companies in Nigeria to move money.
Ambassador Jeter advised Mohammed that Nigeria must be
extremely vigilant in watching these companies.



3. (S) Mohammed stated that he clearly understood the
importance of this issue and would confer with the
Central Bank to establish a mechanism to strictly
monitor NASCO financial transactions.



4. (S) we plan to get back to NSA Mohammed to inquire
what concrete actions have been taken and to ascertain
any findings thus far.


ANDREWS