SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. NONPROLIFERATION

UNCLAS LAGOS 000578 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT KNNP MNUC MX PARM PGOV PHSA PREL SUBJECT: SEEKING SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. NONPROLIFERATION AMENDMENTS TO THE SUA CONVENTION, OPEN-ENDED NIGERIAN RESPONSE REFTEL: STATE 064395 ¶1. (SBU) On April 12 AmEmbassy Abuja delivered text of reftel non-paper to the Nigerian Ministry of Transportation (MOT). AmConsul Lagos delivered the same non-paper to National Maritime Authority (NMA) Director General (DG),Engineer Festus U.C. Ugwu, and NMA Secretary and Legal Advisor, M.E. Egbadon. Egbadon, who will attend the April 18 to 22 IMO Legal Committee meeting with MOT representatives, stated Nigeria's general agreement with the France/UK/U.S. proposed "savings clause." However, Egbadon added that Nigeria does not have a final position on the boarding provisions of Article 8 bis. ¶2. (SBU) Specifically, Egbadon said Nigerian IMO Legal Committee delegates have concerns the U.S. will "abuse the boarding provisions." He said he will meet his MOT colleagues on April 15 in Abuja to finalize the Nigerian position, taking into account this U.S. non- paper. Post will contact Egbadon on April 16 to ascertain Nigeria's final position. ¶3. (U) AmEmbassy Abuja has cleared this cable. BROWNE