COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR FBI DEPTUY DIRECTOR,

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000710

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOS FOR NEA/ENA, AF/E, AF/S, AF/W;
AMEMBASSIES FOR AM, DCM, RSO, COS;

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: OTRA AMGT PREL NI
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR FBI DEPTUY DIRECTOR,
DELEGATION AND ADVANCE TEAM

Classified By: Acting Consul General Vicki Hutchinson for reasons 1.4 (
C and D)

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Because of the security situation in
Abuja, Nigeria, Motor Pool vehicles are not authorized to
leave the city between the hours of 2300 and 0600. Flights
arriving/departing during these hours will not be supported
by motor pool. Travelers using the British Air flight for
arrival will need to wait at the airport until 0630 for Motor
Pool pick up. Travelers wishing to leave the airport on
their own during these hours need to request a waiver via
cable to the Chief of Mission. In Abuja, all trips to the
airport during the hours of darkness (1900 - 0600) must be
accompanied by a police escort at a cost of $8.00, chargeable
directly to the traveler.


1. (C)U.S. Mission Nigeria warmly welcomes and grants
country clearance to FBI Debuty Director John S. Pistole, his
delegation (Tracey A. North, J. Donaldson Shamwell, Alan W.
Sosebee, Kenneth W. Kaiser, Arther M. Cummings, Welsely D.
Lacy, Leonard C. Parker, Russell J. Atanasio and Timothy
Sobus) and his Advance Team (John S. Gabriel, A. Scott
Peterson, Edward Cundiff, Dennis Dvorjak and Scott Wenther)
to visit ConGen Lagos during November 3-9, 2007. U.S.
Mission of Nigeria acknowledges security clearance held by DD
Pistole, his delegation and Advance Team members.


2. (C)Control Officer for this visit in Lagos is Brian
VanDeun. He will coordinate with visitors independently. He
can be reached on the following numbers:

234-1-261-0050 (OFFICE)
234-803-402-2462 CELL)
234-1-261-1863 (FAX)


3. (C)LEGAT Office Lagos will facilitate local
transportation and lodging for subject travelers.
Reservations have been made for your stay in Victoria Crown
Plaza at USD 300 per night. Travelers are responsible for
paying the hotel directly for the cost of their hotel bill
and the hotel account must be settled prior to traveler's
departure from post. It is required that travelers bring
sufficient U.S. dollars to pay hotel deposit. It is the
policy and practice in Nigeria to pay a deposit when checking
into a hotel. NOTE: Only USG employees on travel orders may
cash personal checks or use cashier services. Hotels in
Lagos and Abuja do accept travelers' checks.


4. (U)Direct Charges and ICASS support costs: (Mission
Nigeria TDY policy is posted at the following websites:
Abuja.state.gov, Lagos.state.gov, ICASs.state.gov,
www.ICASS.gov). Each visitor, regardless of length of stay,
must bring/forward fiscal data to pay for direct costs of the
visit. Each agency, organization, or visiting delegation
will be charged for the actual costs attributed to their
visit. Direct charge costs include, but are not limited to:
airport dropoff/pickup (USD 20.00 in Abuja, USD 25.00 in
Lagos),expeditor services (USD 25.00),American and LES
staff overtime, field travel by Embassy employees, vehicle
rentals, long distance telephone calls, equipment rentals,
office supplies, and all other costs directly attributable to
the visit. Also for TDYers over 30 days, there may be
charges for ICASS support services if cumulative charges
exceed USD 2,500 for a TDYer.

If your sponsoring agency is not signed up for ICASS services
at post, please be prepared to sign an MOU for ICASS support
services upon arrival. The agency should provide post with a
written communication that states who can authorize the
availability of funds, confirm that the agency will pay ICASS
charges, provides the agency ICASS billing code, and
authorizes the traveler to sign the ICASS invoice generated
by the TDY module. Where travel is urgent, TDYers should
bring this documentation with them to ensure there are no
interruptions in the provision of service. Post will not
provide any service to a TDYer staying in excess of 30 days
without provision of this documentation before day 30 of the
TDY.


5. (U)The Mission strongly discourages the use of credit
cards anywhere in Nigeria. Visitors should carry travelers
Checks, cash or personal checks (for accommodation exchange
in the USAID office only). A copy of your official travel

orders must be presented to the cashier if you wish to cash
any personal checks. Visitors should verify the
identification of anyone presenting him or herself as a
Consulate or Embassy employee, by checking identification
badges.


6. (U)VISAS are required for entry into Nigeria and must be
obtained prior to traveling. Airport visas are not available
nor an option.


7. (U)Photography: Permission is required to take photos of
buildings, airports, bridges or official-looking areas. These
sites are not always clearly marked. Permission must be
obtained from local security personnel. Penalties range from
confiscation of equipment to arrest. Some Nigerians object
to their photos being taken; always ask permission before
taking pictures of individuals.


8. (U)Checked baggage is frequently lost or delayed from
24-72 hours en route to Nigeria. Travelers are therefore
advised to pack clothing and essentials in their carry on
luggage.

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MEDICAL
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9. (U)Malaria prophylaxis should be started one week before
arrival, continued through the length of stay and at least
four weeks after departure. Visitors must ensure that their
immunizations are up-to-date and carry their entire yellow
book shot record with them. Avian influenza is present in
Nigeria among birds.

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SECURITY
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10 (U).a. Electronic Equipment: In accordance with standard
regulations and access control procedures worldwide, all
electronic equipment must be declared before a visitor brings
the item/s behind the Chancery or Consulate hard line.
Electronic items such as personal computers, Blackberries,
Personal Digital Assistants, etc., must be declared in
advance to the resident Regional Security Office prior to
entry of the Chancery or Consulate. The visitor should
request permission to bring the electronic item/s into the
Chancery or Consulate in advance by informing their Control
Officer or by contacting the resident Regional Security
Offices for approval: For Abuja call 234-9-461-4100; For
Lagos call 234-1-261-0050.

b. Security regulations govern access to U.S. Government
facilities and to classified information and classified
information processing equipment. Implementation of these
regulations requires that the Regional Security Officer be
notified of the full name and type of security clearance, if
any, held by the visitor. Without this notification,
visitors will require escort in facilities where classified
information is stored, produced or discussed. Visitor may use
their diplomatic or official passports or State Department
building passes, along with a copy of this cable, to obtain a
temporary Mission identification card, which is required to
access and remain on any USG office compound in Nigeria.


11. (U)There is no specific terrorist threat against
American citizens or American interests in Nigeria. Rather,
the main threat to U.S. citizens and U.S. interests is mostly
criminal based upon prevailing economic conditions. Violent
crime is endemic throughout the country. Armed street
robberies, carjackings, sexual assaults, residential
burglaries and credit card fraud threaten every person in the
country, foreigners and Nigerians alike. U.S. citizens and
official travelers have not been signaled out, but they are
generally perceived to be affluent and are subject to the
same threat as all other persons in Nigeria. There have also
been incidents of violent communal unrest outside Abuja and
Lagos during the past several months, and innocent bystanders
have suffered. RSO has determined that most violent crimes
around Abuja take place between the hours of 2300 - 0600.
Post, in consultation with the RSO, has placed a temporary
travel restriction on Embassy Abuja motor pool vehicles.
Embassy vehicles are not permitted to travel outside of Abuja

between the hours of 2300 - 0600. Since the airport is
outside of Abuja, travelers should arrange their
arrival/departure flights accordingly.


12. (U)The security environment in Nigeria mandates that the
Regional Security Officer be notified of all travel outside
Abuja at least 48 hours prior to the proposed travel.
Travelers need to be aware that many areas in the country
are significantly less safe than the capital city of Abuja.
Travel outside Abuja should be undertaken with caution and
scheduled to insure return to Abuja, or another
major city, before darkness.


13. (U)Poorly maintained roads and vehicles are a danger to
travelers. Highway robberies and other violence are real
threats. Public transportation, especially buses, is
extremely risky and is not recommended. Vehicular accidents
are common and frequently draw large, confrontational crowds.
Roadside assistance is sometimes non-existent. Always use
Embassy/CG Motor pool or a reliable car hire service. TDY
visitors under Chief of Mission authority who will be in
country more than ten working days are required to receive a
mandatory security briefing by the Regional Security Office.
Your sponsor will provide you with the date and time of your
briefing.


14. (U)FOR VISITORS TO LAGOS: Due to the critical crime
threat, all official Americans, be they permanent or
temporary duty, under Chief of Mission authority, are
required to travel to any areas outside of the islands by
lightly armored vehicle during daylight hours. During hours
of darkness the use of a Lightly Armored Vehicle (LAV) with
an accompanying REACT vehicle with armed Nigerian police, is
mandatory.


15. (U)Scams: Nigeria-based scams are infamous for their
cleverness and their ingenuity. These so called "419" scams
target foreigners worldwide posing both a financial loss and
personal danger to participants. Scams are frequently
initiated by credit card use, telephone calls, and
unsolicited faxes or letters. No one should provide
personal or financial information to unknown parties.


16. (U)Hotel security: Hotels used for TDY employees and
visitors are relatively safe. Guests should not venture off
of the hotel grounds to shopping areas on the street without
being accompanied by a seasoned visitor or hotel
representative. Also, use of taxis or other vehicles or
drivers not specifically arranged by the hotel is strongly
discouraged. Visitors must always be cognizant of the
presence of commercial sex workers who frequent the casinos,
lobbies, pools bars and, at times, brazenly knock on
individual hotel room doors, offering their services. If
confronted, be firm and the solicitation will usually end.
Persistent solicitors should be brought to the attention of
hotel security.

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS
--------------


17. (U)If your office has issued a press release on your
visit, please fax a copy to the Embassy's Public Affairs
Section (PAS) at 234-9-461-4011, so that we can accurately
answer any questions from the local media. PAS frequently
arranges press releases, background briefings, press
conferences, or one-on-one interviews with Nigerian and
resident international press correspondents to help promote
USG objectives. U.S. Mission Nigeria can work with you to
place op-eds before, during, or after the visit that can
advance understanding of the issues. Visitors who will be
keynoting or making remarks at the conferences should
provide PAS with copies of remarks and handouts, which can
reach additional audiences through magazines, newspapers or
niche publications. Please advise whether you anticipate or
want any media events during your visit. To communicate
directly with PAS, please contact in Abuja, Rudolph E.
Steward, PAO (Public Affairs Officer) at 234-9-461-4202
(office phone),234-9-461-4011 (fax)

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COMMUNICATIONS
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18. (U)Email accounts: As a policy, post does not create
email accounts for TDY personnel. If you wish to check
your email while in Nigeria please bring the IP address or
name of your home email server.


19. (U)The U.S. Mission wishes you a safe journey and a
pleasant stay with us.


20. (U)This text was updated in July 2007.
HUTCHINSON