NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000251

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO FOCUS ON ECONOMIC
ISSUES


Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. SUMMARY (C) On May 22, Ambassador Perry met with Godson
Echegile, the new Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone.
Also in attendance were the Poloff and the Nigerian Minister,
Mohammed Bambale. Ambassador welcomed the High Commissioner,
who arrived in Freetown two weeks ago. This is his first
foreign posting after many years spent in the private banking
sector. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) During the brief discussion, High Commissioner
Echegile stated his concerns regarding Sierra Leone's fragile
economy, particularly high unemployment and lack of capital
inflows. Given his business experience, he plans to
facilitate his government to further assist in building the
financial infrastructure, with a focus on encouraging more
foreign direct investment. He noted that seven Nigerian banks
will be operational in Sierra Leone by the end of 2008, and
that Nigeria's experience throughout the 1990s in building
their capacity and infrastructure in various business sectors
will be useful for Sierra Leone to draw from in the future.


3. (C) Ambassador Perry thanked the High Commissioner for his
comments, and remarked on the close and congenial
relationship between the U.S. and Nigerian governments.
Nigeria has long been a valuable ally and partner in Africa
as a continent, but particularly in West Africa. Ambassador
stated her interest in maintaining regular and open lines of
communication with the High Commission, in keeping with the
collaborative nature of the diplomatic relationship, and High
Commissioner Echegile agreed.


4. (C) COMMENT: Having been in Sierra Leone for only a short
time, the High Commissioner provided little insight on areas
of interest to the Government of Nigeria beyond the financial
sector. Given the number of Nigerian banks operating in
Sierra Leone, his connection to the banking world, including
a stint at Citibank, could have been a factor in his
selection for this particular post. Despite his inexperience
in the diplomatic arena, he will be ably assisted by Mr.
Bambale, who served under the previous High Commissioner. END
COMMENT.
PERRY