NIGERIA: CODEL JOHNSON VISITS ABUJA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001929 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA DOE FOR GPERSON, CHAYLOCK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON EPET EFIN MOPS PHUM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CODEL JOHNSON VISITS ABUJA ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: A Congressional Delegation, led by Congressman Hank Johnson and including Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, visited Abuja on August 19. The Codel discussed bilateral relations, mutual security issues, foreign investment and future cooperation between the GON and USG with members of Nigeria's House of Representatives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Ministry of Defense. END SUMMARY. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS -------------- ¶2. (U) Codel first met with Ambassador E.E. Onobu, the Director for International Organizations, and Director for North American Affairs Charles Onianwa, to discuss mutual security issues, economic development, increased transparency to promote more foreign direct investment and ways to "reaffirm and re-energize" our bilateral relations. Representative Johnson expressed particular thanks and appreciation for Nigeria's contributions to, and leadership in, UN peacekeeping operations around the world. Additionally, Congressman Johnson raised the issues of a more equitable distribution of oil revenues among the country's population and developing a climate to attract foreign investment. In return, Ambassador Onobu shared gratitude for USG assistance and said that the GON does its best to make the most of that support. Regarding impediments to increased foreign investment, Ambassador Onobu noted that there can be no progress until there is a "level of sanity in the environmental, financial and political sectors," and the starting point was "credible state institutions that deliver programs in a transparent manner." HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES -------------- ¶3. (U) Honorable Umar Bature, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Defense and Honorable Bassey Otu, Member of the House Committee on Defense explained to the Codel the internal and external challenges faced by the GON. Bature noted that the violence in the Niger Delta was one such challenge. He mentioned the House is currently looking at legislation to make social responsibility mandatory for both the GON and the international companies doing business in the Niger Delta, in hopes of assuaging the discontent of the citizens in the region. Congressman Johnson expressed concern about instability in Nigeria and its effect on foreign investment. Representative Schmidt echoed that concern, noting Procter & Gamble, a U.S. company headquartered in the Congresswoman's district, was interested in investing in Nigeria, but had reservations due to the security situation. Bature, lamenting the deficiencies in the Nigerian military, complained that the GON's inability to purchase spare C-130 airplane parts from the USG was one of their external challenges. (NOTE: This, however, is not the case. The USG has offered the GON C-130 parts worth approximately $2 million. However, after many meetings, letters, and conversations with Defense Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense, outlining the steps the GON needs to take to effectuate the transfer of the parts, Post is still waiting for a response on how/where specifically to ship them. END NOTE.) Congressman Johnson recognized the Nigerian military's contribution to stability in Africa, but added that to establish a more cooperative relationship, the GON needed to be "honest and forthcoming" with information, to which Bature responded with assurances of the GON's willingness to share information. Bature concluded by emphasizing the importance of a strong military in maintaining a successful democracy, and the significant role Nigeria could play as the key USG partner in Africa. MINISTRY OF DEFENSE -------------- ¶4. (U) Representatives Johnson and Schmidt met General O. A. Azazi, Chief of Defense Staff (CDS),and senior officers from each of the Armed Services, at the Defense Headquarters on August 19. Congressman Johnson highlighted Africa's emerging importance, before the discussion turned toward Africa Command (AFRICOM). The CDS stated that the Nigerian military understood AFRICOM well; however, the U.S. needed to convince the political levels of the GON of its importance. In response to CDS' statement that African countries would be supportive of a regionally-structured command, which was proposed in one version of AFRICOM's future construct, Congressman Johnson said the location of the headquarters or any possible regional centers was not a concern at this time. Congressman Johnson also relayed what he said were the legitimate concerns of some U.S. Representatives regarding Nigerian use of "hard power against civilians," as well as suspicion of some government officials' sanctioning of and/or involvement in "illegal activity." In response, General Azazi commented on the Nigerian military's ABUJA 00001929 002 OF 002 longstanding fight against armed militants, but noted that the essential fight was actually about protecting Nigeria's resources. Further discussion on government sanctioning of illegal activity moved beyond the military's realm into larger government issues, particularly regarding the EFCC, he said. NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY -------------- ¶5. (U) Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassador Tony Imohe discussed mutual security issues, intelligence sharing, as well as perceptions and misunderstandings regarding the new Africa Command (AFRICOM),with the Codel. Mr. Johnson thanked the Director-General for his country's assistance in counterterrorism matters. Congresswoman Schmidt underscored the development and stability goals of AFRICOM. Ambassador Imohe noted that while the GON had not misunderstood U.S. intentions, in his estimation, there had not been sufficient consultations between the two governments prior to the announcement of its establishment. At the end of the meeting, the delegation brought up the pending USG request for U.S. Air Marshals on Delta's direct flights from Atlanta to Lagos, given the airline's headquarters in Congressman Johnson's district and its and extensive operations in Rep. Schmidt's. Ambassador Imohe promised to speak to National Security Adviser General Mukhtar about the matter. (NOTE: The Ministry of Transportation approved the request for U.S. Air Marshals to travel on flights between the U.S. and Nigeria in December 2007, but forwarded the request to the NSA, stating that NSA needed to sign off before actual implementation. Ambassador followed up with a letter to NSA Advisor Mukhtar on May 2, 2008; but no response has been received to date. END NOTE.) Imohe also commented that he was positively impressed by the amicable bipartisan nature of the delegation, and noted that it served as a positive example for Nigerian legislators to emulate. ¶6. (U) Codel members cleared this message. SANDERS