NIGERIA: BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR 2010 NPT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001743 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA, ISN/SSRN, ISN/MNSA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PARM AORG UNGA IAEA NPT NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR 2010 NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE REF: STATE 83600 Classified By: Political Counselor James P McAnulty for reasons in Sect ions 1.4. (B) and (D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In response to Reftel, Poloff discussed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and disarmament issues with Foreign Ministry (MFA) First United Nations (UN) Division Director Maria Laose. The GON strongly supports the NPT, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT),Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT),and U.S.-Russian arms control efforts. Nigeria works closely with other nations in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the "Friday Group" on nonproliferation and disarmament. Nigeria does not possess nuclear weapons but would like to develop nuclear power plants to boost power generation. The GON opposes NPT violations, but argues against using proliferation as grounds for denying civilian use of nuclear power to developing countries. Nigerian diplomatic missions usually seek guidance from their capital on arms control issues. END SUMMARY. -------------- - GON STRONGLY SUPPORTS NPT AND RELATED TREATIES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) PolOff discussed NPT and disarmament issues with MFA Director Laose, who previously worked at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna and now serves as the MFA's point person in Abuja on these matters. Laose said the GON strongly supports the NPT, CTBT, FMCT, and U.S.-Russian arms control efforts. She observed that Nigeria was one of the first CTBT signatories. Laose remarked that the GON has no nuclear weapons and is not keen to acquire such weapons, although it seeks to develop nuclear power plants to address chronic power generation shortcomings. ¶3. (SBU) Laose said Nigeria planned to support the CTBT, FMCT, and NPT in upcoming fora, including the Conference on Disarmament, the UNGA First (Disarmament) Committee, and the 2010 NPT Review Conference. Laose noted the absence from our inquiry of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT),which Nigeria has supported and on which Nigeria has collaborated within the "Friday Group," consisting of Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Kenya, among others. She said Nigeria worked closely with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on nuclear issues, particularly disarmament. ¶4. (SBU) Key GON officials involved in nuclear arms control and proliferation decision-making include: Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) Director General Professor S. B. Elegba (with whom all GON officials consult on nuclear issues); Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission Director General Dr. Erebamo Osaisai; Nigerian Ambassador to the IAEA and other international organizations in Vienna, Jerry Ugokwe (who also serves as ambassador to Austria and Slovakia); Ambassador Martin Uhuomoibhi, who represents Nigeria at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva; Nigeria's Permanent Representative (PermRep) to the UN Professor Joy Ogwu; Deputy PermRep Ambassador Ralph Onemola; and MFA Ambassador Chike Amigbo (who covers the National Authority on Chemical and Biological Weapons Convention, which falls under the Secretary to the Government of the Federation). ¶5. (SBU) According to Laose, Nigeria has played a leadership role in various arms control fora. UN PermRep Ogwu serves on the Secretary General's advisory group on disarmament and formerly served as Chairperson of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDR) Board of Trustees. NNRA Director General Elegba has served two or three times on the ABUJA 00001743 002 OF 002 IAEA Director-General's special advisory group. Laose noted that former Nigerian envoy to Berlin Ambassador Rimdab has served for years at GON expense as the Chairperson of various multilateral working groups. ¶6. (C) Laose described interaction among government agencies on nuclear arms control and nonproliferation issues as "nil". When asked whether the GON National Security Advisor had any input on arms control and policy-making processes, she replied, "none at all." Laose noted that NNRA Director General Elegba often reviewed all nuclear-related decisions in the past. Laose indicated that, while her government opposes all NPT violations, the GON also believes that nations should not use proliferation as a reason for denying legitimate civilian use of nuclear power to developing nations. ¶7. (SBU) Laose, noting frequent staff rotation at Nigeria's missions to arms control fora, recommended dealing directly with the Ambassadors she identified above. She said the GON often augments mission staff during key meetings, including the UNGA and IAEA General Conferences, including her attendance. ¶8. (C) In Mission's view, the role of academia and Nigeria's not-yet-existent nuclear power industry in nonproliferation decision-making is negligible. Key alliances with other governments include the NAM and "Friday Group." Most Nigerian missions and institutions are hierarchical, fairly inflexible, adverse to taking initiative, and usually accept guidance from the capital. In most instances, Nigerian missions to the UN, CD, and IAEA would seek guidance from the capital to engage on Review Conference objectives. ¶9. (U) Mission's point of contact on NPT-related issues is Political Officer Patrick Ryan (office telephone: 234-9-461-4141; electronic-mail address: RyanPL@state.gov) MCCULLOUGH