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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001876 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON KDEM KPKO KCOR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CONGRESSMAN PAYNE MEETS WITH PRESIDENT, 
MFA 
 
 
ABUJA 00001876  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY.  Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and HIRC 
Africa Subcommittee Chair Donald Payne discussed regional 
security issues, the Gulf of Guinea partnership, electoral 
reform, economic development and anti-corruption efforts in a 
meeting on August 20.  Yar'Adua reiterated Nigeria's 
commitment to support stability in Darfur and Somalia, though 
fell short of committing to send peacekeeping forces to 
Somalia.  Yar'Adua said his administration is working on a 
plan for Niger Delta security and he expects to approach the 
USG soon with a request for capacity building assistance.  He 
maintained he is committed to electoral reform resulting in a 
"credible election process," though it appears his 
administration will wait until tribunals have concluded work 
on last April's elections before offering concrete reforms. 
Yar'Adua said he plans to create a secure domestic 
environment to attract investment, in particular noting his 
commitment to fighting corruption.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  HIRC Africa Subcommittee Chair Donald Payne met with 
Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Minister of 
Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe on August 20 to discuss regional 
security issues (including Darfur and Somalia), the Gulf of 
Guinea partnership, electoral reform, and Nigeria's economic 
development and anti-corruption campaign.  Yar'Adua 
underscored his desire that "under his presidency a major 
priority will be to strengthen U.S.-Nigerian relations." 
Yar'Adua was flanked during the meeting at the Presidential 
Villa by approximately ten of his staff, including: ForMin 
Maduekwe, MFA Permanent Secretary Ambassador Hakeen 
Baba-Ahmed, State Chief of Protocol Ambassador Muhammad Ghali 
Umar, Presidential Special Advisor for Communications 
Olusegun Adeniyi, and MFA Director of the North and Central 
America Division Charles Onianwa.  Payne was accompanied by 
the Charge d'Affaires, Congressional Research Service 
Professional Staffer Ted Dagne, PolCouns, and PolOff. 
 
REGIONAL SECURITY - DARFUR, SOMALIA 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Congressman Payne noted the strong role Nigeria plays in 
ensuring regional peace and security, and urged President 
Yar'Adua and ForMin Maduekwe to stand by Nigeria's 
commitments to peacekeeping troops in Darfur and Somalia.  He 
noted a particularly important role for Nigeria in Somalia, 
promoting dialogue between the government and the Islamic 
courts.  Payne also encouraged Yar'Adua to persuade Somali 
President Yusuf to reach out to moderate elements of the 
Islamic Courts in order for them to engage with the 
Transition Federal Government and participate in governance 
and for Nigeria to take the lead on mediation efforts. 
Yar'Adua replied that "this is a good idea and I will take 
this initiative." 
 
¶4.  President Yar'Adua assured Congressman Payne of 
"Nigeria's commitment in Darfur, both through peacekeeping 
troops and the assignment of General Agwai."  MFA Permanent 
Secre tary Baba-Ahmed noted in the MFA meeting that the 
government of Sudan is seeking assurances with regard to 
command and control mechanisms for the hybrid force.  "All 
signs are positive" though and he said Nigeria "will follow 
through on its commitment."  ForMin Maduekwe thanked 
Congressman Payne for his work in drawing U.S. attention to 
the suffering in the Darfur region. 
 
¶5.  With regard to Somalia, Yar'Adua was noncommittal to 
quick deployment and would only state a commitment "to work 
within the African Union to find a solution."  Earlier in the 
day, Maduekwe had told Congressman Payne that Nigeria is 
willing to keep commitments and improve the capacity to 
address matters of regional security before crises spread. 
He too, however, fell short of committing to troops in 
Somalia, stating only that the GON is giving "the maximum 
attention possible to Somalia."  MFA Permanent Secretary 
Baba-Ahmed noted a need for sound security on the ground 
before troops could be deployed to Somalia -- this, he 
maintained, would require additional funding to strengthen 
troop security. 
 
GULF OF GUINEA PARTNERSHIP 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Congressman Payne noted the importance of Gulf of Guinea 
 
ABUJA 00001876  002 OF 002 
 
 
initiatives to bringing security to the region.  Yar'Adua 
responded that Nigeria has a "responsibility for leading 
other Gulf of Guinea nations in the security agenda."  He 
noted that the GON is involved in initial planning on Delta 
security and that he expects to approach the U.S. soon for 
capacity building assistance.  Yar'Adua highlighted the 
commitment of the GON to establishing security throughout the 
country and said that progress is being made. 
 
ELECTORAL REFORM 
---------------- 
 
¶7.  President Yar'Adua told Congressman Payne his 
administration is committed to reforming the electoral system 
and stated clearly that "before the next elections, the 
Government will establish a credible electoral process and 
will help to strengthen the culture of democracy."  Yar'Adua 
said he is setting up a committee to begin the reform 
process, though he noted that the committee would focus on 
theoretical approaches to reform until the tribunals finish 
hearing cases concerning this year's elections -- he 
estimated two years.  He noted the need for a truly 
independent electoral commission, both financially and 
administratively.  Congressman Payne told Yar'Adua his early, 
strong statements on electoral reform have been well-received 
in the U.S.; however, he noted actions are needed to address 
the deficiencies in the 2007 election. 
 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ANTI-CORRUPTION 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  President Yar'Adua described Nigeria's lack of investment 
in infrastructure as promoting poverty and inhibiting 
economic growth.  He explained to Congressman Payne that one 
of his domestic priorities is to provide a secure environment 
into which to attract investment in critical sectors, 
especially in the energy sector.  Maduekwe had also commented 
on the linkages between poverty and security, particularly in 
the Delta.  Congressman Payne asked about domestic plans for 
improving the agricultural sector, to which Yar'Adua replied 
that his government is currently studying the failure of 
large-scale farming in Nigeria in the mid 1990s to find out 
what had gone wrong.  Yar'Adua stated that commercial farming 
is the way forward and that Nigeria "can grow everything." 
He noted that agriculture is already the highest growth 
sector in the economy, though the potential remains great as 
well. 
 
¶9.  Congressman Payne applauded Yar'Adua's attempts to weed 
out corruption.  Yar'Adua at that point turned to Maduekwe 
and commented that, as he (Yar'Adua) had stressed at the 
Cabinet retreat last week, the administration must deal with 
the problem of "temptation for corruption in government;" it 
is the "responsibility of leaders to keep corruption low by 
removing temptation."  Yar'Adua told Congressman Payne there 
is "zero tolerance for corruption and there is a national 
consensus on the issue."  In the earlier MFA meeting, 
Maduekwe told Congressman Payne that the rule of law must 
"become an institution of the state."  He noted that the 
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) remains a 
focal point for reforming the system. 
 
¶10.  COMMENT.  Congressman Payne's visit and the gist of his 
exchange with the President were the lead news stories on 
August 21.  President Yar'Adua is getting our message that 
vision needs to be backed by action, even as we note his 
laudable efforts to move forward.  END COMMENT. 
 
THIS MESSAGE WAS CLEARED BY CONGRESSMAN PAYNE. 
GRIBBIN