NIGERIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON STATUS OF EQUIPMENT

UNCLAS ABUJA 000577 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPKO PREL PGOV SU NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON STATUS OF EQUIPMENT FOR UNAMID REF: SECSTATE 29993 ¶1. (SBU) On March 30, Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Minister of State for Defense Ademola Seriki. The Minister affirmed that the Nigerian Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) is in Lagos, awaiting shipment, and would be forwarded to Darfur as soon as possible. In a related conversation, Nigerian Army Staff's Director of Peacekeeping Operations Brigadier General Sani told Mission's OSC Chief that all COE is ready and is awaiting shipment to Sudan via United Nations vessel. He did not offer an estimated shipping date, but blamed Lagos Harbor's well-known congestion for delays (the current backlog in Lagos Harbor is reportedly 105 days or more). ¶2. (SBU) Meanwhile OSC and Political will check with local UN contacts to see if they can provide an estimated timeline for a UN vessel to not only pick up COE but also deliver it to Sudan. ¶3. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. SANDERS