NIGERIA: RELOCATING LIBERIAN REFUGEES

UNCLAS ABUJA 000503

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV NI IV LI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: RELOCATING LIBERIAN REFUGEES

REF: A. LAGOS 519

B. LAGOS 380

C. SECSTATE 36393



1. I.A.D. Nuhu of MFA's Department of Consular and Legal
Affairs March 6 confirmed to Poloff that he had met often
with UNHCR representative Eusebe Hounsokou and that the GON
was interested in accepting refugees from Cote D,Ivoire.



2. Nuhu referred to Nigeria,s existing refugee camps,
pointing out that the infrastructural capacities of these
camps were already stretched to their limit. Nigeria would
be hard-pressed to sustain additional refugees in these
camps. He suggested that the GON might consider voluntary
repatriation for numerous Sierre Leonan refugees currently in
the camps in a way to relieve some of the congestion.



3. Nuhu suggested the GON would be willing to accept from
1000 to 5000 refugees, possibly within the next few months.
He said that concerned GON officials would be meeting with
the UNHCR again the week of March 10, and implied that many
of the logistical details may be sorted out then. Poloff
will follow up with Nuhu at the end of the week.



4. Abidjan minimize considered.
JETER
JETER