NIGERIA: GON REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE TO LOCATE

UNCLAS LAGOS 000120 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PASS AF/W, EEB, DOT FOR FAA AHARRIS, DKRIMSKI, EMULLIKIN, JPREAD, MKEANE, NANGELO, EWHITE, KMILLER, MLIVACK, MCINTRON DOT FOR NTSB DJONES, BMAC, FHILLDRUP DOT FOR CHUNTER, KSAMPLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR EINV NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: GON REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE TO LOCATE MISSING AIRCRAFT ¶1. On March 31 Ambassador received a request dated March 26 from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) requesting USG assistance to locate the missing Beechcraft 1900-5N JAH Aircraft. The letter reads: ¶2. NEMA/SAR/48/I The Ambassador, The American Embassy, Off Airport Road, Central Business District Abuja Request for Assistance to Locate Missing Beechcraft 1900-5N JAH Aircraft. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is the Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible for managing disasters in the country. It is also saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and facilitating the provision of necessary resources for search and rescue in response to distress calls. The Agency has been coordinating the search for a missing Beechcraft 1900-5N JAH Aircraft, which departed Lagos on the 15th March 2008, for Obudu in Cross Rivers State. Intensive search has been conducted along the filed route and possible diversion airfields. All efforts to locate the missing aircraft have proved abortive probably due to the heavily forested and mountainous area with elevation peaking at 5800 ft. The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Agency, hereby requests the assistance of your Government, with your technical expertise and specialized equipment, in locating the missing Beechcraft 1900-5N JAH Aircraft. Please be informed that all required information will be made available to you. While counting on an early intervention, please accept assurances of my highest regards. 26 March 2008 AVM MM AUDU-BIDA (Rtd.) Director-General ¶3. The letter was sent on March 31 by email to the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and Department of State. ¶4. This cable was cleared with Embassy Abuja. BLAIR