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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001929 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA 
DOE FOR GPERSON, CHAYLOCK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON EPET EFIN MOPS PHUM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CODEL JOHNSON VISITS ABUJA 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: A Congressional Delegation, led by Congressman Hank 
Johnson and including Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, visited Abuja on 
August 19. The Codel discussed bilateral relations, mutual security 
issues, foreign investment and future cooperation between the GON 
and USG with members of Nigeria's House of Representatives, the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Intelligence Agency, and 
the Ministry of Defense.  END SUMMARY. 
 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
--------------------------- 
¶2. (U) Codel first met with Ambassador E.E. Onobu, the Director for 
International Organizations, and Director for North American Affairs 
Charles Onianwa, to discuss mutual security issues, economic 
development, increased transparency to promote more foreign direct 
investment and ways to "reaffirm and re-energize" our bilateral 
relations.  Representative Johnson expressed particular thanks and 
appreciation for Nigeria's contributions to, and leadership in, UN 
peacekeeping operations around the world.  Additionally, Congressman 
Johnson raised the issues of a more equitable distribution of oil 
revenues among the country's population and developing a climate to 
attract foreign investment. In return, Ambassador Onobu shared 
gratitude for USG assistance and said that the GON does its best to 
make the most of that support.  Regarding impediments to increased 
foreign investment, Ambassador Onobu noted that there can be no 
progress until there is a "level of sanity in the environmental, 
financial and political sectors," and the starting point was 
"credible state institutions that deliver programs in a transparent 
manner." 
 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
------------------------ 
¶3. (U) Honorable Umar Bature, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on 
Defense and Honorable Bassey Otu, Member of the House Committee on 
Defense explained to the Codel the internal and external challenges 
faced by the GON.  Bature noted that the violence in the Niger Delta 
was one such challenge. He mentioned the House is currently looking 
at legislation to make social responsibility mandatory for both the 
GON and the international companies doing business in the Niger 
Delta, in hopes of assuaging the discontent of the citizens in the 
region.  Congressman Johnson expressed concern about instability in 
Nigeria and its effect on foreign investment.  Representative 
Schmidt echoed that concern, noting Procter & Gamble, a U.S. company 
headquartered in the Congresswoman's district, was interested in 
investing in Nigeria, but had reservations due to the security 
situation.  Bature, lamenting the deficiencies in the Nigerian 
military, complained that the GON's inability to purchase spare 
C-130 airplane parts from the USG was one of their external 
challenges.  (NOTE: This, however, is not the case.  The USG has 
offered the GON C-130 parts worth approximately $2 million. 
However, after many meetings, letters, and conversations with 
Defense Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense, outlining the 
steps the GON needs to take to effectuate the transfer of the parts, 
Post is still waiting for a response on how/where specifically to 
ship them.  END NOTE.)  Congressman Johnson recognized the Nigerian 
military's contribution to stability in Africa, but added that to 
establish a more cooperative relationship, the GON needed to be 
"honest and forthcoming" with information, to which Bature responded 
with assurances of the GON's willingness to share information. 
Bature concluded by emphasizing the importance of a strong military 
in maintaining a successful democracy, and the significant role 
Nigeria could play as the key USG partner in Africa. 
 
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE 
------------------- 
¶4. (U) Representatives Johnson and Schmidt met General O. A. Azazi, 
Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), and senior officers from each of the 
Armed Services, at the Defense Headquarters on August 19. 
Congressman Johnson highlighted Africa's emerging importance, before 
the discussion turned toward Africa Command (AFRICOM).  The CDS 
stated that the Nigerian military understood AFRICOM well; however, 
the U.S. needed to convince the political levels of the GON of its 
importance.  In response to CDS' statement that African countries 
would be supportive of a regionally-structured command, which was 
proposed in one version of AFRICOM's future construct, Congressman 
Johnson said the location of the headquarters or any possible 
regional centers was not a concern at this time.  Congressman 
Johnson also relayed what he said were the legitimate concerns of 
some U.S. Representatives regarding Nigerian use of "hard power 
against civilians," as well as suspicion of some government 
officials' sanctioning of and/or involvement in "illegal activity." 
In response, General Azazi commented on the Nigerian military's 
 
ABUJA 00001929  002 OF 002 
 
 
longstanding fight against armed militants, but noted that the 
essential fight was actually about protecting Nigeria's resources. 
Further discussion on government sanctioning of illegal activity 
moved beyond the military's realm into larger government issues, 
particularly regarding the EFCC, he said. 
 
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 
---------------------------- 
¶5. (U) Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) 
Ambassador Tony Imohe discussed mutual security issues, intelligence 
sharing, as well as perceptions and misunderstandings regarding the 
new Africa Command (AFRICOM), with the Codel.  Mr. Johnson thanked 
the Director-General for his country's assistance in 
counterterrorism matters.  Congresswoman Schmidt underscored the 
development and stability goals of AFRICOM.  Ambassador Imohe noted 
that while the GON had not misunderstood U.S. intentions, in his 
estimation, there had not been sufficient consultations between the 
two governments prior to the announcement of its establishment.  At 
the end of the meeting, the delegation brought up the pending USG 
request for U.S. Air Marshals on Delta's direct flights from Atlanta 
to Lagos, given the airline's headquarters in Congressman Johnson's 
district and its and extensive operations in Rep. Schmidt's. 
Ambassador Imohe promised to speak to National Security Adviser 
General Mukhtar about the matter. (NOTE: The Ministry of 
Transportation approved the request for U.S. Air Marshals to travel 
on flights between the U.S. and Nigeria in December 2007, but 
forwarded the request to the NSA, stating that NSA needed to sign 
off before actual implementation.  Ambassador followed up with a 
letter to NSA Advisor Mukhtar on May 2, 2008; but no response has 
been received to date.  END NOTE.)  Imohe also commented that he was 
positively impressed by the amicable bipartisan nature of the 
delegation, and noted that it served as a positive example for 
Nigerian legislators to emulate. 
 
¶6. (U) Codel members cleared this message. 
 
SANDERS