VZCZCXRO8435
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #2207/01 3170652
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120652Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4403
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 0236
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002207 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO USTR- AGAMA, USTDA - FITTS/MARIN AND EXIM - JRICHTER 
DEPT PASS TO USAID AFR/SD FOR MICHAEL CURTIS - DOT FOR FAA MEL 
CINTRON 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON EAID ASEC ERTD PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: FAA PROPOSES CANCELING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH 
NIGERIAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY 
 
REF: ABUJA 194 
 
SENSITVE BUT UNCLASSIED - NOT FOR DISTRO OUTSIDE USG 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Ambassador and Nigerian Civil Aviation 
Authority (NCAA) Director General Dr. Harold Demuren met on November 
3 to discuss the possible cancellation of Nigeria's technical 
assistance (TA) program with the U.S. Department of Transportation 
(DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The FAA planned to 
cancel TA because the NCAA accepted TA from a contractor/consultant 
working for the Boeing Company to draft regulations as part of the 
NCAA's quest to receive Category 1 status (in compliance with 
minimum international 
standards for aviation safety).  The Ambassador said she was really 
disappointed that NCAA would do this and that she expected them to 
get back on track with FAA as soon as possible; especially with the 
upcoming U.S. Mission/NCAA lead Aviation Workshop scheduled for 
November 17 and 18.    Demuren assured the Ambassador that the 
situation was resolved and that the DOT/FAA was reconsidering 
reestablishing the agreement.  Demuren reported that he would meet 
with USG DOT/FAA in Washington on November 5 to discuss further and 
would brief the Ambassador as soon as he returns to Nigeria.  The 
possible TA cancellation jeopardizes Nigeria's efforts to reach 
category 1 status in the near future and could disrupt USG/GON 
cooperation in other areas.  Demuren has made attaining category 1 
status a major point of his administration.  We understand that 
Demuren has met with FAA in Washington and FAA intends to continue 
technical assistance to NCAA.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met with NCAA Director General Dr. Harold 
Demuren, with EconOff as note taker, on November 3 to discuss the 
pending cancellation of a TA Program between the NCAA and FAA.  An 
FAA team was scheduled to visit with the NCAA from November 3-14; 
however the trip was cancelled.  The Ambassador made strong comments 
to Demuren about not following FAA instruction on hiring outside 
consultants on the eight critical areas covered by the FAA 
agreement. She also said that she would be speaking with Boeing 
about the issue.  Demuren assured the Ambassador that he had spoken 
with officials from DOT/FAA on October 29 and that he had personally 
implemented requested corrective actions with his staff.  Demuren 
indicated that he was flying to the U.S. to attend meetings on 
November 5 with the DOT/FAA on the subject and give them his 
assurances.  (Comment: The FAA planned to cancel TA because the NCAA 
accepted TA from a contractor/consultant working for the Boeing 
Company to draft regulations as part of the NCAA's quest to receive 
a Category 1 rating. Demuren called the Embassy from Washington on 
November 6 to say issues with FAA had been resolved and FAA intended 
to continue technical assistance to NCAA. End Comment). 
 
¶3. (SBU) Demuren indicated that NCAA staff did not understand the 
differences between the assistance provided by the Boeing Company to 
various Nigerian airline carriers and the assistance provided by the 
FAA.  Larry Williams, Aviation Safety Inspector and lead for the FAA 
technical assistance team to Nigeria, told Lagos EconOff October 29 
that the consideration of TA cancellation was due to the NCAA's 
collaboration with Boeing in one of the eight critical areas, namely 
the drafting of regulations, covered under the FAA-NCAA's TA 
agreement. That being the case, FAA believed it could deploy its 
limited resources elsewhere (Note: The FAA team is providing TA 
through an agreement with the NCAA as the GON seeks a category 1 
status in eight key areas: legislation, regulation, civil air 
authority structure and oversight functions, technical guidance, 
qualified technical personnel, licensing and certification, 
continued surveillance obligations, and resolution of safety issues. 
FAA Division Manager for International Programs and Policy Division 
Melvin Cintron told EconOff November 7 that NCAA and Boeing were 
called to a meeting on November 6 with many DOT/FAA representatives, 
and FAA told Boeing not to provide consultations on the eight 
annexes that the FAA TA is working on and that Boeing could provide 
consultations on the other nine annexes.  End Note). 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador explained that the NCAA's action gave the 
appearance of a conflict of interest.  Again, Demuren assured the 
Ambassador that he had made this distinction to his team and they 
are cognitive of how to press forward.  The Ambassador indicated 
that she would also meet with Boeing to clarify the issue. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The U.S. Mission and NCAA formed a public private 
partnership to host a two day Aviation Safety and Security Workshop 
in Abuja on November 17 and 18.  This event is a two day workshop 
that focuses on U.S. aviation safety and security, private sector 
expertise, and category 1 status to improve safety and security in 
Nigeria's skies. 
 
 
ABUJA 00002207  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT. Dr. Demuren seemed genuinely sorry for the 
incident and deeply appreciates USG assistance in Nigeria's quest to 
reach Category 1 status.  Demuren has made attaining Category 1 
status a major point of his administration.  On November 7 Cintron 
told EconOff that the meeting with Demuren on November 5 was 
positive.  In addition, on November 6, FAA told Boeing it was 
concerned and deeply disappointed in Boeing's actions.  Cintron 
added that this incident has put Nigeria behind schedule, but that 
FAA has confidence that Demuren can stay the course to bring Nigeria 
to category 1 status. End Comment. 
 
¶7. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
 
SANDERS