VZCZCXRO4214
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #1042/01 2091448
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281448Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7704
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0159
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0363
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0781
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1110
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001042 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY, 
TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; 
DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED JONES; 
ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR EINV PREL NI
SUBJECT: JULY 12-19 LAGOS AIRPORT SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND 
NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINES INSPECTION 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Members of the Nigerian Civil Aviation 
Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of 
Nigeria (FAAN) met the Transportation and Security 
Administration (TSA) team on July 19 to discuss measures to 
improve aviation security at Lagos Murtala Muhammad 
International Airport (MMIA).  FAAN and NCAA officials agreed 
on the need to improve perimeter fence security, enhance 
access control, respond more effectively to crisis exercises, 
and certify screeners at the national level.  They requested 
USG assistance to modernize their operations and upgrade 
their crisis response capacity, including conducting Man 
Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) threat assessments for 
Lagos MMIA and Abuja International Airport.  End summary. 
 
---------- 
Background 
---------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) In 2004, TSA sent a team to conduct an airport 
assessment in response to World Airways' proposal to launch 
direct air services from Lagos to New York.  The 2004 team 
recommended NCAA/FAAN officials create a separate civil 
aviation security regulation, a national cargo program, 
improve their national training program guidelines, and allow 
NCAA to regulate FAAN aviation security training.  In 2006, a 
follow-up TSA team inspected Lagos MMIA operations from July 
12-19, and noted the following positive developments: a new 
civil aviation bill that is pending approval, the creation of 
a national cargo program, improved training guidelines, and a 
new security department within the NCAA to regulate aviation 
security.  TSA team members included: Rome Representative 
Halinski and Senior Aviation Inspectors Reid and Moorgan. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The TSA team inspected North American Airlines 
flight operations on July 17 and July 19.  They were 
satisfied with passenger screening procedures, aircraft 
search procedures, baggage checks, and cargo screening.  The 
major lapse was the passenger walk-through screening machine 
was inoperative during both NAA's July, 17 and July, 19 
flights.  They pointed this out to their Nigerian 
counterparts, recommending prompt repair.  A NAA official 
told us July 28 the machine is still not functional. (Note: 
While a functioning passenger walk-through screening machine 
is not a TSA requirement, it greatly enhances a screener's 
ability to detect contraband. End note.) 
 
---------------------------------- 
TSA Identifies Need for Improved 
 
SIPDIS 
Perimeter Fence and Access Control 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The TSA team met NCAA Director General, Harold 
Demuren, at NCAA headquarters on July 19 to discuss aviation 
security at Lagos MMIA.  Demuren agreed the NCAA needed to 
improve perimeter fence security by repairing holes in the 
fence, conducting routine maintenance, and clearing the fence 
line of excess foliage and plant overgrowth to prevent 
unauthorized access.  He welcomed TSA's recommendation to 
improve airport access control by updating employee and 
vehicular Identification (ID) badges on an annual basis. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Improve Crisis Response Capabilities; 
Certify Screeners at the National Level 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The TSA team met FAAN Lagos MMIA Chief Security 
Officer B.O. Olatunji on July 17-19 to discuss crisis 
response training.  Olatunji and other FAAN security 
officials appeared unaware of the specifics of a crisis 
response hijacking exercise conducted in Abuja three months 
ago.  Demuren acknowledged the need to disclose the results 
of crisis training exercises to a broader audience of 
security personnel to improve the NCAA and FAAN's crisis 
response capabilities. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The TSA team met FAAN Aerodrome Department 
inspectors July 17 to discuss the process for certifying 
inspectors.  Chief Designated Inspector A. Ajayi reported 
that FAAN tested and audited inspectors ultimately rather 
than through the NCAA.  Demuren concurred that certification 
 
LAGOS 00001042  002 OF 002 
 
 
needed to occur at the national level and the NCAA, as 
regulator, should be testing the FAAN inspectors for annual 
re-certification. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
USG Assistance for MANPADS Threat Assessments 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Demuren requested USG assistance modernizing NCAA 
operations and upgrading their management response capacity 
to enable Nigeria to obtain U.S. Federal Aviation Authority 
(FAA) Category 1 status.  He requested USG assistance to 
conduct Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) threat 
assessments for Lagos MMIA and Abuja International Airport. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Demuren said the success of North American Airlines 
would lure other airlines to enter the Nigerian aviation 
market.  Aviation security would become even more important 
as other airlines, specifically Nigerian airlines such as 
Arik Air and Bellview, began direct flights to the U.S.  He 
said the Aviation Ministry is also pursuing Continental and 
Delta airlines to enter the Nigerian market.  He envisioned 
these airlines would offer expanded direct air service routes 
from Lagos to various U.S. cities including Atlanta, Houston, 
Miami, and Los Angeles. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The July 12-19 TSA inspections highlighted areas in 
which the NCAA and FAAN could improve airport security at 
Lagos MMIA.  Upgrading aviation security at Lagos MMIA and 
other international gateway airports is crucial to obtain FAA 
Category 1 status.  The Aviation Ministry has addressed 
previous aviation security concerns at Lagos MMIA, and has 
shown a willingness to incorporate TSA recommendations into 
their operations.  We should continue to work closely with 
them to upgrade and modernize their security operations. 
NCAA and FAAN welcome the idea of sending a USG team to 
conduct MANPADS threat assessments for Lagos MMIA and Abuja 
International Airport. End comment. 
 
¶10. (U) This cable has been cleared by TSA Rome 
Representative John Halinski and Embassy Abuja. 
BROWNE