NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH DEFENSE MINISTER,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 001963 SIPDIS AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019 TAGS: GV NI PGOV PINR PREL SUBJECT: NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH DEFENSE MINISTER, DISCUSSES NEXT STEPS IN NIGER DELTA Classified By: Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Ambassador, Defense Attache (DAO),and Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) Chief held an hour-long, substantive meeting October 23 with Nigeria's new Defense Minister and Amnesty Committee Chairperson Retired General Godwin Osage Abbe to review a range of military-to-military cooperation activities, post-amnesty processes, including oil bunkering, and future Niger Delta development. Ambassador raised in general the proposed Binational Commission (BNC) under discussion by the interagency asking Abbe about his views on themes the GON might address. Abbe highlighted Niger Delta as a key potential BNC issue, adding that he hoped the international community would assist with post-amnesty rehabilitation and training needs. Ambassador also encouraged active invitations to Africa Command, who through the U.S. Mission, is seeking to help train, equip, and build the capacity of the Nigerian military. She suggested the new MOD visit Africa Command at his earliest opportunity. END SUMMARY. -------------- MILITARY DIPLOMACY OFFERS ADVANTAGES -------------- ¶2. (C) Defense Minister and Amnesty Committee Chairperson Abbe met October 23 with the Ambassador, DAO, and OSC at Ministry of Defense (MOD) Headquarters in Abuja. The Chief of Air Staff sat in. After introductory comments by the Ambassador noting the importance of the U.S.-GON military-to-military relationship and improvement over concerns about Africa Command, she emphasized that USG efforts were only here to assist the GON military in its goals for transformation. Abbe acknowledged this and congratulated the U.S. for "sustaining greatness," declaring that, since assuming his position as Minister, he had impressed upon his staff the many advantages of "military diplomacy" with the United States. -------------- SEEKING MORE MIL-TO-MIL COOPERATION -------------- ¶3. (C) Abbe said he greatly appreciated OSC programs, especially International Military Education and Training (IMET) courses. He viewed IMET as representing the "train-the-trainer" approach for developing Nigeria's military capabilities. The Minister emphasized the importance of thorough U.S. evaluations of Nigerian participants in IMET programs, and wondered aloud if we were too generous in our estimation of Nigerian officials participating in our programs. OSC Chief assured the Minister that was not the case, and, hands down, GON officers always proved to be the most effective in our programs. Ambassador highlighted the role that Nigerian officers have played to date in the APS program, noting that in the next APS iteration a Nigerian would serve as Deputy Commander. Abbe said he would like to increase maritime security cooperation "to keep criminals out of Nigerian waters." He asked that the U.S. "step up" installation of Regional Qasked that the U.S. "step up" installation of Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) systems and help Nigeria to create a RMAC "fusion center" at MOD to permit the Nigerian Navy to control the country's territorial waters. We briefly mentioned the possibility of another country providing the RMAC for the Eastern Command in Calabar. -------------- CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN PKO'S -------------- ¶4. (C) Abbe said that, while he has not visited the Nigerian Armed Forces Peacekeeping Center at Jaji, he planned to do so soon. Raising the issue of C-130 refurbishment, he stated a desire for refurbishing the C-130 fleet to allow the Nigerian ABUJA 00001963 002 OF 004 Air Force to become a "key player" in providing air lift in the region, not only for Nigeria, but for other African countries as part of its leadership role. On the spot, the Minister suggested to Air Staff Chief Petinrin that it might be propitious for the GON to consider refurbishing two C-130s during the next iteration, vice one, after the current C-130 completed refurbishment. (N.B.: The USG and GON are working on securing another letter of request (LOR) for refurbishment of a second C-130 and may add another one in the LOR based on the Minister's comments. End note.) -------------- IMPORTANCE OF NIGER DELTA PEACE -------------- ¶5. (C) Ambassador then opened the dialogue on the Niger Delta, given Abbe's prominent role in bring about the fragile amnesty. Abbe admitted it was tough going, that things remained fragile, and that on occasion he has had to beg people to commit to the peace for the betterment of the nation. He noted that the biggest challenge for sustained peace in the region is permanently "winning the hearts and minds" of ex-militants and the community. This will be key in the post-amnesty process as a way of securing peace indefinitely in the Niger Delta. He said the GON decided upon the need for a amnesty program in which officials "sat down and discussed" issues with key players in a true "spirit of amnesty." Internal and external contacts had impressed upon the GON that a permanent solution could only occur through peace -- not arms. Abbe remarked that those who remained skeptical mostly involved criminals engaged in oil bunkering who did not want amnesty to succeed. Abbe acknowledged that "so many people have taken advantage" of the Niger Delta's instability through criminal enterprises, including extortion, organized killings and kidnappings, and theft of natural resources. He maintained that controlling such rogue elements has been difficult, with criminals "fizzling" into the local community for cover, making it hard to root them out. -------------- - READY FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S ASSISTANCE -------------- - ¶6. (C) In response to the Ambassador's question regarding whether the GON now saw a role for the international community, Abbe said he believed the time was ripe to have the international community come in to support and assist. He stressed that Nigerians have found the solution themselves, have peace, albeit fragile, so there is no longer a fear of internationalizing the problem. Where assistance is needed now is in the post-amnesty programs of training and development. Abbe said he has already asked the UN Development Program (UNDP) for assistance on certain things. (Note: Separately, UNDP Country Director Turhan Saleh (strictly protect) has confirmed this to us. End note). The Ambassador asked if he could share the GON post-amnesty plans and what was needed. Abbe promised to have the President's MDG coordinator and Yar'Adua's Special Advisor on Poverty QMDG coordinator and Yar'Adua's Special Advisor on Poverty Alleviation reach out to discuss post-amnesty program elements with the U.S. Mission. The General also asked for USG assistance on oil bunkering to help Nigeria's Navy deter piracy and oil bunkering. He asked for U.S. technology to identify illegal and mobile refineries that process illegally bunkered oil in their waters. Abbe stated that blocking oil bunkering markets in West Africa and elsewhere would also help in fighting terrorism since some of the proceeds from oil bunkering "undoubtedly" financed terrorist activities. Thus, he stressed, the USG should have a keen interest in assisting the GON in this regard. He agreed that no single country could provide all the needed assistance but required the efforts of the entire international community. He also claimed that the GON would be writing to the United Nations to ask it to take a more active role in assisting the GON with this regional and international issue. -------------- AMNESTY IS A SUCCESS -------------- ABUJA 00001963 003 OF 004 ¶7. (C) Abbe believes that the disarmament phase "has been a success as far as the GON was concerned," despite those who still wished "it would go back to the way it was before." Nonetheless, Abbe affirmed that the GON remained "ready to bend over backwards" to make the Rehabilitation and Reintegration (R&R) process work. He acknowledged that some people still profited from lawlessness and that some who surrendered were never militants. He said "the goal is to ensure a peaceful enabling environment where life could begin to return to normal." -------------- WAY FORWARD -------------- ¶8. (C) Ambassador asked about next steps. Abbe stated that the Amnesty Committee had met as early as 3 a.m. the morning of October 23 to discuss the costs and steps forward. The R&R process will assess the level of education and skills of each ex-militant involved and provide the relevant educational training. Abbe said the committee hoped to "train in batches," but this will be challenging due to the lack of support and resources. Despite unanswered funding issues, Abbe claimed that the plan for now is to help "ex-militants" who want to continue their university education to do so, while the GON will send those who want skills acquisition to training centers. ¶9. (C) As a way forward, Abbe was firm in stating that the entire R&R process would be a Nigerian solution, just as amnesty was. He acknowledged "development" issues of the region but stressed that the GON is trying to train and re-absorb all the ex-militants over the next 12 to 18 months, with a clear "exit strategy" that ensured sustainability. Abbe acknowledged that the GON had "some money" for the R&R process, but would "definitely accept assistance if it was offered." He pointed out that the purpose of the Ministry of the Niger Delta (MND) is now to rebuild the region. He said the MND and NDDC have programs to implement, including "railways cutting across all of the Niger Delta," a coastal highway, schools, and health centers. When Ambassador asked about problems of electricity and education, Abbe stated that local and state governments would be responsible for handling those issues. He noted that some money from oil production will be set aside and given to oil-producing communities. Abbe emphasized that the GON was "willing to bend over backwards to make all this work and busy working with the local governments and governors." -------------- C-130 AIRCRAFT TO BE REFURBISHED -------------- ¶10. (C) Abbe earlier complimented "the current working relationship" between the U.S. and Nigeria on refurbishing Nigerian Air Force C-130s. OSC chief noted that C-130 tail number 917 is about to go through the Depot Maintenance program in Lisbon. He stated that he wanted to continue using the USG for the refurbishment of future C-130s because "the U.S. offers the best quality service." Additionally, Abbe stated he would like to "enhance Nigeria's maintenance capabilities and develop a more robust maintenance program," Qcapabilities and develop a more robust maintenance program," using what he called a "bottom-up approach." Nigerian military equipment procurement procedures needed review, with greater emphasis on transparency and long-term maintenance capabilities, said Abbe. He is currently discussing this issue with each of Nigeria's military services. ¶11. (C) Ambassador also raised the willingness of Africa Command to be of assistance and turned to the Chief of Air Staff (COAS) to see what his plans were regarding the invitation pending for 17th Air Force officers to visit between November and December 2009. The COAS said he had not yet discussed this with the Minister, but is working on a proposal on when they could come and what the GON would want them to do, including further discussions on the C-130 refurbishment program. ABUJA 00001963 004 OF 004 -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (C) All players who have a role in the Niger Delta point to the Defense Minister as the key player in ensuring the success -- or failure -- of the GON amnesty program. We will continue monitoring the program's progress and look forward to seeing the actual R&R plans. Abbe is sharp, smart, and organized. He showed a mixture of compassion and noted his desperate measures and impassioned pleas (at one time, he even said he had to beg people to see the greater good) to a variety of stakeholders to ensure that the amnesty was a success. He acknowledges the fragility, but strongly believes that, if the GON can move quickly on a R&R process, the region really has a chance to enjoy lasting peace. We will have to wait and see how their R&R plans unfold, and also whether they share these plans with other donors. The important point, however, at least from Abbe's viewpoint, is that the GON appears more open to international assistance on development of the Niger Delta. SANDERS