NIGERIA: OBASANJO ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001062 SIPDIS CAIRO FOR POL - MAXSTADT E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2013 TAGS: MASS PREL NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: OBASANJO ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE REF: A. ABUJA 804 ¶B. 02 ABUJA 3165 CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During a June meeting, President Obasanjo and Ambassador Jeter discussed the status of U.S. bilateral security assistance programs. Obasanjo was perplexed by the impending shut-down of the MPRI program, the C-130 restoration program, and the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Center (NAFRC) program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. The President immediately ordered the payment of 1 million USD of the 3.5 million USD due the MPRI program and said the GON would pay the balance in the future. He instructed newly appointed Chief of Defense Staff GEN Alexander Ogomudia to find a shipping company to transport FMF-purchased C-130 parts by Friday, June 13. Obasanjo was unsure of the status of the NAFRC project and asked Ogomudia to look into it. END SUMMARY. -------------- MPRI -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador Jeter reminded Obasanjo of the GON's promise last November to provide 3.5 million USD for MPRI's operations (REF B). The Ambassador further reminded the President that the program would expire on July 31 if the funds were not forthcoming. Obasanjo said he did not understand why the Finance Minister, who attended the November meeting, had not released the funds. Obasanjo asked the Ambassador if the GON could provide 1 million USD in funding immediately, making up the balance of 2.5 million USD in the future. Ambassador said an immediate release of 1 million USD would show good faith on the part of the GON. Obasanjo then directed NSA Mohammed to find the funds immediately. -------------- C-130 RESTORATION PROGRAM -------------- ¶3. (C) Ambassador informed Obasanjo that the GON's failure to contract a shipping company to transport FMF-purchased C-130 spare parts from the U.S. to Nigeria could cause the program to be cancelled. While the MOD had identified a company, the GON had not yet paid the 500,000 USD up-front charges the company required. Obasanjo seemed surprised and wondered aloud why the GON could not use another company. Obasanjo then directed CDS Ogomudia to resolve the issue by Friday, June 13. -------------- Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Center -------------- ¶4. (C) Ambassador told Obasanjo that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Labor were engaged in programs to improve the facilities and curriculum at NAFRC. Unfortunately, however, NAFRC is not receiving enough money from the GON to run its DOL donated generators, let alone operate properly. Ambassador informed Obasanjo of DOL's intention to shut down its program if NAFRC does not receive operating funds. Obasanjo asked Ogomudia to look into the matter. (NOTE: The DOL-supported NAFRC program grew out of a direct request by Obasanjo. END NOTE.) ¶5. (C) COMMENT: While Obasanjo's offer to provide 1 million USD falls short of the 3.5 million the GON owes, it is a step in the right direction. These funds should allow the MPRI program to operate until December, hopefully, giving the GON enough time to pay the 2.5 million shortfall. We have informed the Ministry of Defense of the need to provide us with a Letter of Request (LOR) to continue MPRI no later than Monday, July 16. MOD Joint Service Director B.O. Williams informed ODC the morning of July 16 that she would be attending a MOD budget planning meeting on July 18. She expected to have more information on the MPRI funding and, possibly, the LOR that day. END COMMENT. JETER