NIGERIA: CONGRESSMAN PAYNE MEETS WITH PRESIDENT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001876 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON KDEM KPKO KCOR NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CONGRESSMAN PAYNE MEETS WITH PRESIDENT, MFA ABUJA 00001876 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY. Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and HIRC Africa Subcommittee Chair Donald Payne discussed regional security issues, the Gulf of Guinea partnership, electoral reform, economic development and anti-corruption efforts in a meeting on August 20. Yar'Adua reiterated Nigeria's commitment to support stability in Darfur and Somalia, though fell short of committing to send peacekeeping forces to Somalia. Yar'Adua said his administration is working on a plan for Niger Delta security and he expects to approach the USG soon with a request for capacity building assistance. He maintained he is committed to electoral reform resulting in a "credible election process," though it appears his administration will wait until tribunals have concluded work on last April's elections before offering concrete reforms. Yar'Adua said he plans to create a secure domestic environment to attract investment, in particular noting his commitment to fighting corruption. END SUMMARY. ¶2. HIRC Africa Subcommittee Chair Donald Payne met with Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe on August 20 to discuss regional security issues (including Darfur and Somalia),the Gulf of Guinea partnership, electoral reform, and Nigeria's economic development and anti-corruption campaign. Yar'Adua underscored his desire that "under his presidency a major priority will be to strengthen U.S.-Nigerian relations." Yar'Adua was flanked during the meeting at the Presidential Villa by approximately ten of his staff, including: ForMin Maduekwe, MFA Permanent Secretary Ambassador Hakeen Baba-Ahmed, State Chief of Protocol Ambassador Muhammad Ghali Umar, Presidential Special Advisor for Communications Olusegun Adeniyi, and MFA Director of the North and Central America Division Charles Onianwa. Payne was accompanied by the Charge d'Affaires, Congressional Research Service Professional Staffer Ted Dagne, PolCouns, and PolOff. REGIONAL SECURITY - DARFUR, SOMALIA -------------- ¶3. Congressman Payne noted the strong role Nigeria plays in ensuring regional peace and security, and urged President Yar'Adua and ForMin Maduekwe to stand by Nigeria's commitments to peacekeeping troops in Darfur and Somalia. He noted a particularly important role for Nigeria in Somalia, promoting dialogue between the government and the Islamic courts. Payne also encouraged Yar'Adua to persuade Somali President Yusuf to reach out to moderate elements of the Islamic Courts in order for them to engage with the Transition Federal Government and participate in governance and for Nigeria to take the lead on mediation efforts. Yar'Adua replied that "this is a good idea and I will take this initiative." ¶4. President Yar'Adua assured Congressman Payne of "Nigeria's commitment in Darfur, both through peacekeeping troops and the assignment of General Agwai." MFA Permanent Secre tary Baba-Ahmed noted in the MFA meeting that the government of Sudan is seeking assurances with regard to command and control mechanisms for the hybrid force. "All signs are positive" though and he said Nigeria "will follow through on its commitment." ForMin Maduekwe thanked Congressman Payne for his work in drawing U.S. attention to the suffering in the Darfur region. ¶5. With regard to Somalia, Yar'Adua was noncommittal to quick deployment and would only state a commitment "to work within the African Union to find a solution." Earlier in the day, Maduekwe had told Congressman Payne that Nigeria is willing to keep commitments and improve the capacity to address matters of regional security before crises spread. He too, however, fell short of committing to troops in Somalia, stating only that the GON is giving "the maximum attention possible to Somalia." MFA Permanent Secretary Baba-Ahmed noted a need for sound security on the ground before troops could be deployed to Somalia -- this, he maintained, would require additional funding to strengthen troop security. GULF OF GUINEA PARTNERSHIP -------------- ¶6. Congressman Payne noted the importance of Gulf of Guinea ABUJA 00001876 002 OF 002 initiatives to bringing security to the region. Yar'Adua responded that Nigeria has a "responsibility for leading other Gulf of Guinea nations in the security agenda." He noted that the GON is involved in initial planning on Delta security and that he expects to approach the U.S. soon for capacity building assistance. Yar'Adua highlighted the commitment of the GON to establishing security throughout the country and said that progress is being made. ELECTORAL REFORM -------------- ¶7. President Yar'Adua told Congressman Payne his administration is committed to reforming the electoral system and stated clearly that "before the next elections, the Government will establish a credible electoral process and will help to strengthen the culture of democracy." Yar'Adua said he is setting up a committee to begin the reform process, though he noted that the committee would focus on theoretical approaches to reform until the tribunals finish hearing cases concerning this year's elections -- he estimated two years. He noted the need for a truly independent electoral commission, both financially and administratively. Congressman Payne told Yar'Adua his early, strong statements on electoral reform have been well-received in the U.S.; however, he noted actions are needed to address the deficiencies in the 2007 election. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ANTI-CORRUPTION -------------- ¶8. President Yar'Adua described Nigeria's lack of investment in infrastructure as promoting poverty and inhibiting economic growth. He explained to Congressman Payne that one of his domestic priorities is to provide a secure environment into which to attract investment in critical sectors, especially in the energy sector. Maduekwe had also commented on the linkages between poverty and security, particularly in the Delta. Congressman Payne asked about domestic plans for improving the agricultural sector, to which Yar'Adua replied that his government is currently studying the failure of large-scale farming in Nigeria in the mid 1990s to find out what had gone wrong. Yar'Adua stated that commercial farming is the way forward and that Nigeria "can grow everything." He noted that agriculture is already the highest growth sector in the economy, though the potential remains great as well. ¶9. Congressman Payne applauded Yar'Adua's attempts to weed out corruption. Yar'Adua at that point turned to Maduekwe and commented that, as he (Yar'Adua) had stressed at the Cabinet retreat last week, the administration must deal with the problem of "temptation for corruption in government;" it is the "responsibility of leaders to keep corruption low by removing temptation." Yar'Adua told Congressman Payne there is "zero tolerance for corruption and there is a national consensus on the issue." In the earlier MFA meeting, Maduekwe told Congressman Payne that the rule of law must "become an institution of the state." He noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) remains a focal point for reforming the system. ¶10. COMMENT. Congressman Payne's visit and the gist of his exchange with the President were the lead news stories on August 21. President Yar'Adua is getting our message that vision needs to be backed by action, even as we note his laudable efforts to move forward. END COMMENT. THIS MESSAGE WAS CLEARED BY CONGRESSMAN PAYNE. GRIBBIN