TSA DEMARCHE ON NEW AIR PASSENGER SCREENING RULES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000039

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA;
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY;
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY, TSA, OIA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC PINR NI
SUBJECT: TSA DEMARCHE ON NEW AIR PASSENGER SCREENING RULES

REF: A. STATE 01187

B. ABUJA 00020

C. ABUJA 00038

Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in sections 1.4 (b) and (d).

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DECEMBER 25 IS "WAKE-UP" CALL
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1. (C) Ambassador delivered Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) demarche (ref A) January 12 to Foreign
Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who characterized the December
25 attempted bombing of a U.S. commercial aircraft as a
"wake-up" call for Nigeria. Though Maduekwe initially
smirked when the Ambassador described the USG's "close
relationship" with the GON, his reaction during the demarche
turned positive. He simply responded, "fair enough."
Maduekwe remarked that the decision had caused an "initial
shock" and "extreme pain" to Nigerians, but the GON is ready
"to move beyond that."


2. (C) The Ambassador also provided a copy of the Embassy's
press statement thanking Nigerians for their expressions of
sympathy and outreach since December 25. Maduekwe remarked
that citizens of both countries were fortunate that suspect
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had not succeeded. He agreed that
both countries should collaborate more closely on
international terrorism issues. He recommended focusing on
bilateral cooperation, information sharing, and enhanced
security measures.

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NSA STILL AGAINST AIR MARSHALS
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3. (C) On the issue of USG air marshals traveling on
international commercial flights between Nigeria and the
U.S., Maduekwe stated that both he and the Attorney General
"were on board" with the proposed Memorandum of
Understanding. He noted, however, that "a few bureaucratic
challenges" remained prior to final implementation. Foreign
Ministry (MFA) Deputy Director for North and Central AMERICA
Rabiu Shehu previously indicated to EconCouns that that the
agreement would be "approved without delay," but noted that
the National Security Advisor (NSA) remained a "sticking
point." (See septels on Deputy Secretary Lute's meeting with
Foreign Minister and NSA, and ref C on Ambassador's
conversation with Foreign Minister January 10).

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COMMENT
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4. (C) Foreign Minister Maduekwe displayed a noticeably more
constructive tone during the demarche than he had previously
exhibited when he convoked the Ambassador January 5 to
express his profound consternation over the listing of
Nigeria as a TSA "country of interest" (ref B). Since then,
after admitting that he does not receive security or
intelligence briefings, the Foreign Minister now appears to
be willing to entertain that there may be other links in
Nigeria with outside extremists and that the current bombing
suspect has revealed a greater problem in the country (ref
C). Despite this, the USG still faces an uphill battle and
resentment from many Nigerians on the TSA listing. Most
Nigerian senior government officials have yet to come to
terms or are willing to acknowledge that there are links to
outside extremist groups operating in Nigeria. END COMMENT.


5. (U) Embassy coordinated this telegram with ConGen Lagos.


6. (SBU) Given Mission IT infrastructure problems, ref A
demarche request was only received on January 11 in Mission's
Qdemarche request was only received on January 11 in Mission's
telegram traffic system.


SANDERS