DOES INSPIRATION MATTER? THE SAFE SKIES FOR AFRICA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 002424

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 10 YEARS
TAGS: EAID EAIR ECON ETRD PTER NI
SUBJECT: DOES INSPIRATION MATTER? THE SAFE SKIES FOR AFRICA
CONFERENCE NIGERIAN DELEGATION


Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (b & d)


1. (U) Summary. The GON sent a three-member delegation to
the Safe Skies for Africa Conference in Johannesburg, South
Africa October 25-29; Lagos US Consulate Econoff also
attended the event. The Nigerian delegation said, upon
returning home, it would push for passage of a pending
aviation bill and will seek to secure additional security
equipment. The delegation believes both initiatives are
critical toward meeting international aviation safety and
security standards. Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) officials
cautioned the GON to seek alternative sources for obtaining
aviation equipment. U.S. assistance, they said, is shifting
away from equipment transfers and moving toward training and
capacity building. End summary.


2. (U) The Nigerian delegation (NIDEL) members to the Safe
Skies for Africa (SSFA) Conference in Johannesburg October
25-29 were Mr. Desmond Ugwuegbulem, Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Director of Airport Operations,
Mrs. A.A. Faworaja, FAAN General Manager for Security, and
Mr. Obi Anadu, FAAN General Manager for Murtala Muhammed
International Airport.

WHO WILL FUND SECURITY EQUIPMENT?
--------------


3. (U) Throughout the conference, the NIDEL repeatedly raised
the need for more security equipment to Econoff and US
aviation officials. TSA and DOT officials replied that
future USG contributions for aviation security in Nigeria
mostly will be in training and consultation rather than
security equipment itself. The US has already provided USD
3.2 million in aviation security equipment to Nigeria through
the DOT Nigerian Transportation Project.


4. (SBU) GON aviation officials need to realize that they
have to take greater responsibility for purchasing their own
equipment and that they should not place undue reliance on
the US to transfer equipment to them. At the November 11
US-Nigeria bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
(TIFA) talks in Abuja, an uninvited MOA official waited
outside the conference room for several hours to deliver a
request that we supply Nigeria with additional aviation
security equipment.


5. (SBU) According to DOT, however, Nigeria has received more
equipment than any other African nation. DOT has provided
Nigeria new passenger screening equipment, explosive trace
detectors, and hand held and metal detectors for all four
major international airports (Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port
Harcourt). In addition, DOT has trained 300 personnel on the
use of the equipment, and has provided maintenance contracts
for all the equipment. DOT thinks its role in helping to
equip Nigerian airports with state of the art passenger and
cargo screening equipment has been fulfilled.


6. (SBU) Comment. Following years of equipment transfers,
Nigerian aviation officials have in place new state of the
art security equipment at all major international airports.
The major concerns now are the maintenance of the equipment
and of the training levels of the personnel using the
equipment. Additionally, equipping airports with similar
equipment is an important concern. DOT had recommended to
Nigerian MOA officials that the older equipment removed from
the international airports be placed at appropriate domestic
airports. The time has come for Nigerian aviation officials
to identify alternate funding sources for additional security
equipment. Nigeria might raise funds for equipment through
airport taxes or a budget allotment on an annual basis. DOT
believes that Nigeria has in place the foundation for
becoming a world-class aviation hub on the security side.
Flight safety concerns remain to be addressed. End comment.

PUSH FOR CIVIL AVIATION BILL
--------------


7. (U) NIDEL members told Econoff that passage of civil
aviation legislation stalled in the National Assembly is
necessary for further progress towards meeting international
aviation standards. (Amembassy Abuja will send a copy of the
draft bill to US FAA legal experts to determine if it meets
ICAO standards. If so, this will be an important step in
creating an aviation regulatory environment that will comply
with the requirements for reaching FAA Category One status.)


8. (SBU) NIDEL member, Ugwuegbulem, told Econoff he will do
his part to encourage passage of adequate legislation. He
plans to inform the new MD of FAAN, Alhaji Gambo Umar, of its
importance in the hope that Umar will, in turn, stress its
importance to MOA. MOA will then work with National Assembly
members to pass the bill.


9. (C) Comment. A strong aviation sector in Nigeria would
benefit both US and Nigerian interests. Direct routes
between the US and Nigeria would result in improved market
access and increased trade. We were pleased with the
enthusiasm the NIDEL displayed at the SSFA Conference.
However, the trio probably does not have the bureaucratic
clout and influence to change budget allocations or effect
legislation. Notwithstanding NIDEL apparent buy-in, we
suspect SSFA Conference messages and ideas will not resonate
loudly at the MOA where the true impetus for change must
come. As a result, it may be some time before Nigeria
attains the aviation stature it covets and the concomitant
economic openness that stature would help produce. End
comment.


10. (U) This cable has been cleared by Amembassy Abuja.

BROWNE
BROWNE