NIGERIA: EMBASSY WELCOMES CODEL JOHNSON, AUGUST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001594 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN PREL NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: EMBASSY WELCOMES CODEL JOHNSON, AUGUST 18-20 REF: STATE 85391 ABUJA 00001594 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. U.S. Mission Nigeria warmly welcomes the visit of Congressmen Hank Johnson, Phil Gingrey and Jean Schmidt, as well as other accompanying members of their delegation, to Abuja, Nigeria from August 18-20, 2008. Embassy Abuja will work to schedule requested meetings. The Mission looks forward to greeting the delegation upon its arrival. ¶2. Control Officer for the visit is Cheryl Fernandes. Contact information is: 234-9-461-4219 (OFFICE) 234-803-665-1166 (CELL) FernandesCL/at/state.gov Administrative Point of Contact for the visit is John Heinbeck: 234-9-461-4157 (OFFICE) 234-803-408-0949 (CELL) 234-9-461-4305 (FAX) HeinbeckJC/at/state.gov ¶3. The Embassy has reserved rooms at the Protea Hotel Asokoro. Rooms include free WiFi internet access and an in-room computer for use free of charge. Breakfast is not/not included. The hotel address is: Bola Ige Close, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria and phone number is 234-803-408-0591. ¶4. Please note that visas are required for entry into Nigeria and must be obtained prior to traveling. Airport visas are not available. ¶5. SECURITY: 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 singled 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. Embassy Abuja will arrange for appropriate security details to accompany the delegation. ¶6. MEDICAL: 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. ¶7. Further information on travel in Nigeria is available at the following State Department website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis pa tw/cis/cis 987.html ¶8. Draft Schedule: AUGUST 18: 1935 Arrival in Abuja on mil air from Addis Ababa Proceed to Protea Hotel Asokoro, Abuja RON at hotel AUGUST 19: 0900 Country Team Briefing at U.S. Embassy 1000 AFRICOM Briefing at U.S. Embassy 1200 Meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole TBD Meeting with key Senate members TBD Meeting with Chief of Defense Staff GEN O.A. Azazi TBD Meeting with National Security Advisor MAJ GEN Sarki Mukhtar (ret) TBD Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe ABUJA 00001594 002.2 OF 002 1800 Reception in honor of Codel Johnson at Charge d'Affairs' residence AUGUST 20: 1000 Departure via mil air to Naples PIASCIK