Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA2040
2009-11-10 15:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIAN MILITARY OUTLINES AMBITIOUS PEACEKEEPING
how-toVZCZCXRO4586 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHUJA #2040/01 3141508 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101508Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7452 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0602 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2265 RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002040
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, PM, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL MCAP NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN MILITARY OUTLINES AMBITIOUS PEACEKEEPING
TRAINING AGENDA
Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002040
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, PM, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL MCAP NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN MILITARY OUTLINES AMBITIOUS PEACEKEEPING
TRAINING AGENDA
Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The Nigerian military plans to train 35,000 soldiers
for peacekeeping missions by the end of 2009 and may be in a
position to send forces to Chad, according to Nigerian Army
Peacekeeping Center (NAPC) Commandant and Brigadier General
Emeka Onwuamaegbu. He told PolMilOff during an October 30
visit to Jaji, Kaduna State, that he would like to expand
training to include more national programs, including
Disarmament, Demobilization, and Rehabilitation (DDR)
training for the Niger Delta. Onwuamaegbu wants to transform
the NAPC into a "tactical-level" National Center of
Excellence catering to enlisted ranks. The school would fill
what he described as "a gap" in regional "operational-level"
training provided by the Kofi Annan International
Peacekeeping Center in Ghana, which targets primarily officer
ranks. Onwuamaegbu believes Nigeria's greatest weakness in
peacekeeping operations (PKO) involves "logistics,"
especially management and manpower capacity, but not
necessarily equipment. END SUMMARY.
--------------
POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPING ROLE IN CHAD
--------------
2. (C) Commandant Onwuamaegbu told PolMiloff in Jaji, Kaduna
State, October 30 that the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Center
(NAPC) planned to train sixteen battalions, or 35,000
Nigerian soldiers, by the end of 2009, of which 32,500
soldiers have already completed training. He noted that
Nigeria presently contributed four battalions to United
Nations (UN) PKO missions in Sudan and two battalions in
Liberia, with each battalion holding some 800 soldiers.
Onwuamaegbu remarked that he anticipated "picking up two new
PKO missions in Chad" next year. He commented, however, that
Nigeria had reached its "maximum capacity" for PKO missions,
because the GON has placed considerable "internal pressures"
on the Army to serve in law-enforcement roles. He averred
that "the police are internally over-stretched and
incompetent, lacking capacity to fight even basic
criminality." When asked whether these pressures included
the Joint Task Force, Onwuamaegbu expressed hope that the
amnesty process would succeed, if only to free up troops
within the Niger Delta for other Army missions. He remarked
that the Nigerian Army often "feels pressure to move troops
to the Niger Delta."
--------------
TACTICAL-LEVEL TRAINING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
--------------
3. (C) Onwuamaegbu would like to expand NAPC's training focus
to include "UN and national programs," including DDR courses.
He asserted that he would like to transform the NAPC into a
"tactical-level" National Center of Excellence catering to
enlisted ranks. The school would fill what he described as
"a gap" in "operational-level" training provided by the Kofi
Annan International Peacekeeping Center in Ghana, which
targets primarily officer ranks. Onwuamaegbu stated that
Qtargets primarily officer ranks. Onwuamaegbu stated that
NAPC is negotiating with the GON to train Nigerian law
enforcement personnel, who presently receive "classroom-only"
training at the Abuja police headquarters. He would also
like to train components of the ECOWAS Standby Force and
expects to receive a group of civilians from the African
Union in March 2010.
--------------
GREATEST WEAKNESS INVOLVES LOGISTICS
--------------
4. (C) Nigeria's greatest PKO weakness involves "logistics,"
said Onwuamaegbu. He clarified, however, that "We are
management poor, not equipment poor." He cited Ghana's army
as an example of an African military force superior in
ABUJA 00002040 002 OF 002
logistical manpower and capability. Onwuamaegbu returned
from Darfur six weeks ago where he noted "gaps in training"
in night operations tactics, use of Global Positioning
Satellites and Night Vision Devices, convoy movements, and
rough-terrain driving. NAPC has since added training modules
in these areas.
--------------
BIOGRAPHIC NOTES
--------------
5. (SBU) Brigadier General Onwuamaegbu became NAPC Commandant
following a massive reshuffle of senior Army leadership by
Nigerian Army Chief Lieutenant General Abdulraman Danbazau in
January 2009. He previously served as Director of Nigerian
Army Public Relations. He told PolMiloff that he has served
his entire Army career in public relations or training
missions.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Onwuamaegbu's desire to expand the NAPC's mission is
most likely sincere, but unrealistic. Senior Nigerian
military officers often declare to Embassy Defense Attache
that "We are going to expand and take on new missions."
However, NAPC has its hands full just increasing the number
of rotations this year -- much less expanding into new
missions.
7. (U) Embassy coordinated this telegram with ConGen Lagos.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, PM, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL MCAP NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN MILITARY OUTLINES AMBITIOUS PEACEKEEPING
TRAINING AGENDA
Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) The Nigerian military plans to train 35,000 soldiers
for peacekeeping missions by the end of 2009 and may be in a
position to send forces to Chad, according to Nigerian Army
Peacekeeping Center (NAPC) Commandant and Brigadier General
Emeka Onwuamaegbu. He told PolMilOff during an October 30
visit to Jaji, Kaduna State, that he would like to expand
training to include more national programs, including
Disarmament, Demobilization, and Rehabilitation (DDR)
training for the Niger Delta. Onwuamaegbu wants to transform
the NAPC into a "tactical-level" National Center of
Excellence catering to enlisted ranks. The school would fill
what he described as "a gap" in regional "operational-level"
training provided by the Kofi Annan International
Peacekeeping Center in Ghana, which targets primarily officer
ranks. Onwuamaegbu believes Nigeria's greatest weakness in
peacekeeping operations (PKO) involves "logistics,"
especially management and manpower capacity, but not
necessarily equipment. END SUMMARY.
--------------
POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPING ROLE IN CHAD
--------------
2. (C) Commandant Onwuamaegbu told PolMiloff in Jaji, Kaduna
State, October 30 that the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Center
(NAPC) planned to train sixteen battalions, or 35,000
Nigerian soldiers, by the end of 2009, of which 32,500
soldiers have already completed training. He noted that
Nigeria presently contributed four battalions to United
Nations (UN) PKO missions in Sudan and two battalions in
Liberia, with each battalion holding some 800 soldiers.
Onwuamaegbu remarked that he anticipated "picking up two new
PKO missions in Chad" next year. He commented, however, that
Nigeria had reached its "maximum capacity" for PKO missions,
because the GON has placed considerable "internal pressures"
on the Army to serve in law-enforcement roles. He averred
that "the police are internally over-stretched and
incompetent, lacking capacity to fight even basic
criminality." When asked whether these pressures included
the Joint Task Force, Onwuamaegbu expressed hope that the
amnesty process would succeed, if only to free up troops
within the Niger Delta for other Army missions. He remarked
that the Nigerian Army often "feels pressure to move troops
to the Niger Delta."
--------------
TACTICAL-LEVEL TRAINING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
--------------
3. (C) Onwuamaegbu would like to expand NAPC's training focus
to include "UN and national programs," including DDR courses.
He asserted that he would like to transform the NAPC into a
"tactical-level" National Center of Excellence catering to
enlisted ranks. The school would fill what he described as
"a gap" in "operational-level" training provided by the Kofi
Annan International Peacekeeping Center in Ghana, which
targets primarily officer ranks. Onwuamaegbu stated that
Qtargets primarily officer ranks. Onwuamaegbu stated that
NAPC is negotiating with the GON to train Nigerian law
enforcement personnel, who presently receive "classroom-only"
training at the Abuja police headquarters. He would also
like to train components of the ECOWAS Standby Force and
expects to receive a group of civilians from the African
Union in March 2010.
--------------
GREATEST WEAKNESS INVOLVES LOGISTICS
--------------
4. (C) Nigeria's greatest PKO weakness involves "logistics,"
said Onwuamaegbu. He clarified, however, that "We are
management poor, not equipment poor." He cited Ghana's army
as an example of an African military force superior in
ABUJA 00002040 002 OF 002
logistical manpower and capability. Onwuamaegbu returned
from Darfur six weeks ago where he noted "gaps in training"
in night operations tactics, use of Global Positioning
Satellites and Night Vision Devices, convoy movements, and
rough-terrain driving. NAPC has since added training modules
in these areas.
--------------
BIOGRAPHIC NOTES
--------------
5. (SBU) Brigadier General Onwuamaegbu became NAPC Commandant
following a massive reshuffle of senior Army leadership by
Nigerian Army Chief Lieutenant General Abdulraman Danbazau in
January 2009. He previously served as Director of Nigerian
Army Public Relations. He told PolMiloff that he has served
his entire Army career in public relations or training
missions.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) Onwuamaegbu's desire to expand the NAPC's mission is
most likely sincere, but unrealistic. Senior Nigerian
military officers often declare to Embassy Defense Attache
that "We are going to expand and take on new missions."
However, NAPC has its hands full just increasing the number
of rotations this year -- much less expanding into new
missions.
7. (U) Embassy coordinated this telegram with ConGen Lagos.
SANDERS