DHS DEPUTY SECRETARY LUTE MEETS WITH NIGERIAN AVIATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 07 ABUJA 000067 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY (LUTE),ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POLICY (HEYMAN),AND OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/21 TAGS: PREL PTER EAIR OVIP PGOV PINR NI SUBJECT: DHS DEPUTY SECRETARY LUTE MEETS WITH NIGERIAN AVIATION SECURITY AND COUNTER-TERRORISM POLICY MAKERS REF: 10 ABUJA 38; 10 ABUJA 39 CLASSIFIED BY: Ball, Perry, Economic Counselor, State, Economic Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary Lute met with senior-level Nigerian policy makers on January 12 to underscore the need for global cooperation to strengthen international civil aviation security and counter-terrorism measures. Deputy Secretary Lute met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Minister of Aviation, the Secretary General of the Federation, the Vice President (see septel),and the National Security Advisor, and outlined four areas for improvement: information sharing; technological application; reinforcement of weaknesses within the existing security system; and creation of mechanisms that would enable governments to share information in emergency situations. Deputy Secretary Lute stressed the need for partnership on aviation security and said the current counter-terrorism threats are a global problems, not just a U.S. issue, and proposed a regional, ministerial-level meeting be convened to address these issues. All GON officials expressed their shock and deep sadness over the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt. The National Security Advisor told Deputy Secretary Lute the deployment of U.S. Federal Air Marshals on flights between the U.S. and Nigeria had not yet received final approval from his office, as there is "no legal structure" in place to guide the undertaking. The overall tone of all the meetings was positive, with interest in working with the U.S. on aviation security issues. High on most of the officials' minds was their concern over the recent listing of Nigeria as a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) "country of ABUJA 00000067 002 OF 007 interest." END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- FOREIGN MINISTER: "STUPID YOUNG MAN" MARS NATIONAL IMAGE -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Nigerian Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe expressed his deep concern that Nigeria's listing as a "country of interest" will mar the image of the nation during the lead-up to Nigeria's 50-year anniversary later this year. He implored Deputy Secretary Lute to reconsider the categorization of Nigeria, which he blamed on the actions of one "stupid young man." Maduekwe recalled former Secretary of State Christian Herter's recognition of the Federation of Nigeria in October 1960 as the commencement of U.S-Nigeria relations. Bilateral relations have improved and changed since that moment, said Maduekwe, and preservation of this relationship is of the utmost importance to the GON. He added that both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Aviation are in accord with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering the deployment of U.S. Federal Air Marshals. Deputy Secretary Lute assured the Foreign Minister that Nigeria has no better friend than the United States and welcomed closer collaboration on aviation security. Maduekwe was pleased to hear this and pledged to work closely with the U.S. on counter-terrorism issues. -------------- -------------- DG OF CIVIL AVIATION: ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Deputy Secretary Lute separately discussed aviation security with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Director General Harold Demuren. Demuren, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),expressed sadness over the events of December 25 and said he viewed this meeting as an opportunity to effect changes for the good of all people. The attempted bombing was especially ABUJA 00000067 003 OF 007 devastating, given all the effort and resources the GON had invested in bringing Nigerian civil aviation safety standards up to par with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's International Aviation Flight Safety Assessment for Category 1 Certification. He assured Deputy Secretary Lute that aviation security remained of paramount concern to the GON and that all options for preventing future terrorist attacks are "on the table." ¶4. (C) Demuren provided Deputy Secretary Lute a package of documents containing additional information on Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's activities leading up to the attempted bombing. The information came from an internal investigation from Abdulmutallab's purchase of the ticket in Accra to the time he checked himself into the seat numbers for both legs of the flight to the United States. He concluded his overview by asserting that Nigerian airport officials could not have detected the explosive device on Abdulmutallab's person with the existing security capability. Deputy Secretary Lute told Demuren she would deliver the information to those in charge of the ongoing investigation. Demuren also passed to the U.S. Mission team a package for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). ¶5. (C) Demuren reassured Deputy Secretary Lute that Nigerian airport security measures have became stricter than ever and that the GON had already procured additional screening equipment. On screening, all passengers must undergo a physical "pat down" and examination of all personal items accessible during the flight. He added that no gels or liquids are allowed unless carried in transparent bags. Catering carts and fuel also receive scrutiny. Any passenger who refuses to undergo screening will be prohibited from boarding. Additionally, Demuren told Deputy Secretary Lute that the GON has allocated funding for the purchase of three-dimensional body-scanning machines. He noted, however, the need for additional training on the use of the machines. Finally, Demuren told ABUJA 00000067 004 OF 007 the delegation he planned to create a separate and dedicated screening bay for all international flights bound for the United States. ¶6. (C) Deputy Secretary Lute proposed the convening of a region-wide, ministerial level meeting to spur consultation in the following areas: -- Aviation Security: Importance of recognizing aviation security as a global problem and that we want to work with our friends and partners on the issue. -- Information gathering and sharing: Many nations are doing a good job of gathering information, but there is room for improvement. She cited the lack of common standards for passenger name record (PNR) data as an example. -- Technological application: DHS will leverage other USG departments to accelerate development of new technology. She stressed the importance of end-user capacity. DHS will evaluate the use of currently-deployed technology to ensure the U.S. is using it to its full potential and look at ways of strengthening the human interface. -- Reinforcement of existing weaknesses through resource allocation: DHS will address identified shortcomings by targeting more resources to less capable parts of the security system. -- International cooperation: DHS recognizes the need to improve international consultation and collaboration and is seeking to identify mechanisms to further cooperation. D/S Lute reiterated these points in all subsequent meetings. -------------- -------------- MINISTER OF AVIATION AND SGF: APPROVAL OF AIR MARSHALS MOU ABUJA 00000067 005 OF 007 -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Minister of Aviation Babatunde Omotoba highlighted the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and the United States, and expressed hope that the outcome of the visit would reinforce existing ties. He remarked that all perpetrators involved in the attempted bombing on December 25 should be found and brought to justice. He assured the Deputy Secretary Lute that the air space in Nigeria is safe, citing Transportation Security Administration's 2009 findings that the Abuja and Lagos airports are in compliance with international standards. He pledged that "we will do whatever needs to be done to win the war on terrorism." ¶8. (C) Omotoba provided Deputy Secretary Lute with details about projected security enhancements and expressed a need for security training and scanning equipment. In addition to the changes in screening procedure, Omotoba said he anticipated delivery of two three-dimensional body scanners next week. He noted that GON investment in car scanners, which would be used at the airport entrance and parking lot, represented an additional measure the GON could use in the future. He admitted that additional training for airport operators is needed, and that the GON would welcome any USG-recommended training. Omotoba said that, "within his ministry," all outstanding concerns delaying the Air Marshals Agreement have "been resolved." ¶9. (C) Secretary to the Government of the Federation Alhaji Yayale Ahmed joined the last few minutes of the meeting to further underscore GON willingness to cooperate with the USG. He said all Nigerians share a common respect for life and a determination to fight terrorism. Secretary Ahmed told Deputy Secretary Lute that the GON is committed to working with the USG to identify and pursue those who threaten the safety of innocent civilians. He said security cannot be compromised. Deputy Secretary Lute closed the meeting by reaffirming the USG's commitment to ABUJA 00000067 006 OF 007 working with the GON to improve coordination, information sharing, capacity building, and communication among all stakeholders. She welcomed honest dialogue. -------------- -------------- NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: NO LEGAL STRUCTURE FOR U.S. AIR MARSHALS -------------- -------------- ¶10. (C) Nigerian National Security Advisor Major General (Ret.) Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar agreed that nations should work together to address terrorism as it has become a cross-cutting problem for all members of the global community. The terrorist attack on September 11 was not merely a wake-up call for the United States but all members of the global community, said Mukhtar. No one is safe, and the reach of terrorism is unrestricted. He said the sophistication of terrorism is taxing on the intelligence community. Thus, all concerned parties must work together to address the issue. He added that he is more concerned with the infiltration of outsiders, mostly from the Maghreb, than with the perceived threat that native Nigerian Muslims will somehow radicalize in Nigeria. (NOTE: At the request of the Deputy Secretary Lute, the Ambassador and the Regional Affairs Office (RAO) Chief provided a next-step action the for GON security services regarding 12/25 issues on the margins of the meeting. See Septel. END NOTE.) ¶11. (C) Asked about the status of the U.S. Federal Air Marshals MOU, Mukhtar said the GON lacks the necessary "legal structure" to support the agreement. He committed to working with the Mission to address outstanding legal framework concerns that must be resolved before the MOU could be signed. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ABUJA 00000067 007 OF 007 ¶12. (C) The Vice President, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Aviation, and the Director General of the Nigerian Aviation Authority all expressed a strong interest in working closely with the U.S. to improve aviation security. Only the National Security Advisor seemed reluctant to move forward with the signing of the U.S. Federal Air Marshals MOU. The Vice President's ability to push the promised cooperation forward in the aftermath of the Christmas Day attempted bombing will be an early test of his political authority. ¶13. (U) Deputy Secretary Lute departed Abuja before having the opportunity to clear on this telegram. SANDERS