AVIATION MINISTER SPEAKS OF REFORM, REQUESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000275 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY, TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016 TAGS: EAIR EINV PREL NI SUBJECT: AVIATION MINISTER SPEAKS OF REFORM, REQUESTS ASSISTANCE AND COMPLAINS ABOUT VIRGIN NIGERIA REF: A. LAGOS 195 ¶B. 05 LAGOS 1784 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (D). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Consul General met Aviation Minister Borishade on February 13 for a readout on the aviation industry. Borishade listed his top priorities as airport security, airport operations, radar operations, and funding for training and equipment. He said the Ministry was still waiting for results from the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) regarding the Bellview and Sosoliso airplane crashes. He added that he was awaiting comments from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) on a draft Aviation bill before presenting the bill to the National Assembly. Borishade stressed that his patience with Virgin Nigeria (VN) was waning. End summary. -------------- -------------- Comprehensive Bilateral Aviation Action Plan Sought -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On February 13, Aviation Minister Babalola Borishade and his new Technical Advisor, Remi Olumuyiwa, met Consul General (CG) and Econoff to discuss moving Nigerian aviation forward. Borishade stressed four main areas: airport security, airport operations, radar operations, and training and equipment for various aviation parastatals. He said the World Bank was providing funding to support secondment of expatriate aviation experts/trainers, but he welcomed greater assistance from USG/FAA and other international organizations in this and other priority areas. He agreed with the CG's recommendation that a systematic review of U.S.-Nigeria aviation cooperation was necessary to ensure an efficient division of labor and avoid duplication of efforts with other actual and potential donors. Borishade said he would provide Post with a checklist of organizations assisting the Aviation Ministry, the services they provide, while also crafting what he viewed as a comprehensive action plan for U.S.-Nigeria cooperation. -------------- Airport Security; Priority Number One -------------- ¶3. (C) Borishade stressed the need to increase airport security by conducting employee security background checks, training security personnel, and outsourcing airport passenger and baggage screening to a competent private firm. He said over 60% of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) staff did not meet educational and training qualifications to remain effective, and that over 1,200 security personnel needed full security background checks. The FAAN Director of Security Operations is very uncomfortable with the present airport security environment, he said. Borishade emphasized plans to transfer the security function away from FAAN and create a separate Directorate of Security within the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to concentrate on improving airport security and train security officers. Borishade stressed that volatility in the Niger Delta and the threat of further violence made it imperative that airports increase their security. As the government hardens the defense of oil facilities, militants might see Port Harcourt Airport as an attractive soft target, he explained. ¶4. (SBU) Unlike his concerns with FAAN and its management, Borishade appeared pleased with the performance of new Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director General (DG) Harold Demuren and Nigerian Air Space Management Agency (NAMA) Director General (DG) Roland Iyayi. Captain Iyayi was Borishade's former Technical Advisor before assuming his current position. Borishade did not have much to say on airspace management and radar operations, except to express his confidence in Iyayi and Demuren's ability to address airspace management and radar operation concerns. -------------- 3 New Directorates Created LAGOS 00000275 002 OF 003 -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Borishade said three new directorates were created since the CG and Borishade last met November, 2005 (reftel b). The three new directorates include: the NCAA's Directorate of Licensing and the Directorate of Aeromedical Services, and NAMA's Directorate of Aeronautical Telecommunication, Information and Chart Services. -------------- -------------- Bellview and Sosoliso Airplane Crash Results Pending; Still Waiting for FAA draft Aviation bill -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Borishade said he was still waiting for the NTSB investigation results for the October Bellview and December Sosoliso aircraft crashes. Based on preliminary findings, he suspected a combination of poor weather, pilot error, and maintenance deficiencies resulted in the Sosoliso crash. The Sosoliso pilot never collected the en route weather report before departing for Port Harcourt. Borishade did not comment on the Bellview crash. ¶7. (SBU) Borishade said he was awaiting comments from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) on a draft Aviation bill before presenting the bill to the National Assembly. (Note: Post has sent the draft copy to the Aviation Ministry. End note). -------------- -------------- Crocodiles at Lagos Murtala Muhammad International Airport? -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) Borishade said the Ministry was sending personnel to visit airports to re-examine physical structures, remove unnecessary objects, and clear land. He admitted that had the Ministry buried the erosion control ditch located to the left of the runway at Port Harcourt Airport, and removed the concrete wall inside the ditch, more lives might have been saved during the December Sosoliso crash. The Ministry was planning to increase surrounding airport security near Lagos Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) by spending naira 34 million (USD 216,539) to clear dense jungle and a water channel inhabited by dangerous crocodiles, he said. -------------- Unhappy With Virgin Nigeria -------------- ¶9. (C) Borishade expressed surprise at the extent to which U.S. airline companies objected to VN's application to establish a direct route. He said VN's application was unlikely to gain approval because of the strong reaction of Continental and other U.S. airline companies. "VN is caught up in a battle they cannot win", he emphasized. He expressed annoyance, that contrary to his Ministry's recommendations, VN did not increase its domestic flights, did not purchase new planes, did not increase flights to South Africa, and did not apply for new slots in London's Heathrow Airport. Instead, VN applied for slots in Gatwick Airport, a strategic move by VN to avoid competing with parent company Virgin Atlantic (VA),Borishade believes. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) Given the Bellview and Sosoliso plane crashes and numerous embarrassing disruptions caused by fuel shortages, runway problems, corruption scandals, and airplane maintenance issues, the Minister appeared eager to take steps that would improve the functioning and public perception of the aviation industry and of his Ministry. In this regard, he has held numerous workshops, public hearings on airport safety, and hired experienced private sector personnel to assume management positions in the NCAA. He is working closely with the World Bank, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),and other international bodies to improve safety and oversight as well as consulting with U.S. aviation management companies. He seemed sincere in wanting LAGOS 00000275 003 OF 003 to create a comprehensive U.S.-Nigeria bilateral aviation assistance plan and forging a good relationship with us. His approval for North American Airlines to begin codesharing arrangements is a positive development. His ultimate goal remains resumption of U.S.-Nigeria direct air services. Given his eagerness and enthusiasm to improve Nigeria's aviation environment and to work with us, the USG has a significant opportunity to strengthen the current bilateral relationship. Additionally, Nigeria has not received the benefits expected from its relationships with VA or VN. If he had his druthers, Borishade would give serious reconsideration to VN's special status in Nigeria. End comment. BROWNE