Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ABUJA3351
2002-12-20 13:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON MINISTER OF

Tags:  ECON ETRD PINR NI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 003351 

SIPDIS


STATE FOR AF/W AND EB/TPP
GENEVA PASS USTR
STATE PASS USTR FOR PCOLEMAN
COMMERCE FOR ITA MAC


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2012
TAGS: ECON ETRD PINR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON MINISTER OF
COMMERCE NGELELE


REF: COLEMAN/KRZYWDA EMAIL 12/17/02


Classified by CDA Timothy D. Andrews; Reason 1.5 (d).


C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 003351

SIPDIS


STATE FOR AF/W AND EB/TPP
GENEVA PASS USTR
STATE PASS USTR FOR PCOLEMAN
COMMERCE FOR ITA MAC


E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2012
TAGS: ECON ETRD PINR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON MINISTER OF
COMMERCE NGELELE


REF: COLEMAN/KRZYWDA EMAIL 12/17/02


Classified by CDA Timothy D. Andrews; Reason 1.5 (d).



1. (C) Precious Ngelele is a native of Rivers State. A former
Abuja Poloff believes Ngelele is a U.S. citizen. We know he
lived in the United States for many years before returning to
Nigeria in 1999. Poloff reports Ngelele is divorced or
separated from a U.S.-citizen spouse, with whom he had
several children. Ngelele currently lives in Abuja with a
women from a South-South ethnic group who is not permitted to
marry because of her position in a royal family. (Note:
Ngelele's Nigerian colleagues may not be aware that he is a
U.S. citizen. The 1999 Constitution of the Republic of
Nigeria requires that ministers and other GON officials hold
Nigerian citizenship only. End Note.)



2. (C) At one point Ngelele may have supported President
Obasanjo's top opponent for the 1999 PDP presidential
nomination, Alex Ekueme, but in the end he backed Obasanjo
and after the election was named Minister of State for Water
Resources. Post has been unable to obtain additional
information on Minister Ngelele's pre-1999 educational or
professional background.



3. (C) The former Poloff reports that Ngelele has a low-key
personality and is well disposed to the United States.
ANDREWS