VZCZCXRO0797
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0456/01 0751727
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161727Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5518
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 0974
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0108
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0413
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0365
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000456 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA; USTDA-MARIN; EXIM-RICHTER 
BAGHDAD FOR MCCULLOUGH 
ROME PASS TO TSA - ANTHONY GIOVANNIELLO 
DAKAR PASS TO FAA - MOIRA KEANE 
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA MEL CINTRON, AHARRIS 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/MCREED 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON EINV ETRD PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS ROBUST NEXT STEPS WITH AVIATION 
MINISTER 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 361 
      ¶B. ABUJA 204 
      ¶C. ABUJA 168 
 ¶D. LAGOS 40 
      ¶E. 08 ABUJA 2313 
      ¶F. 08 ABUJA 2207 
      ¶G. 08 ABUJA 194 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION; NOT 
FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE USG 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  The Ambassador met with the new Minister of 
Aviation Babtunde Omotoba on March 5 to advocate for new Delta 
Airline routes from Abuja to Atlanta and Lagos to New York and 
reviewed the multilateral Open Skies Agreement signed between the 
United States and Nigeria in 2000.  Omotoba agreed to extending 
landing rights for the new routes if Delta provides overall better 
customer service to passengers to include upgrading planes with less 
modern amenities used on the route, reducing incidents of lost or 
missing luggage; and overall better passenger treatment. Omotoba 
complained that Delta was using antiquated planes on the existing 
Lagos to Atlanta flights.  The Ambassador agreed to discuss with 
Delta on the subject of the Minister's complaints regarding its 
customer service.  The Minister also agreed to an industry security 
meeting in March featuring speakers on security requirements from 
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security 
Administration (TSA); an April meeting with FAA on Category 1; and a 
May meeting with the U.S. 17th Air Force of Africa Command to assist 
with a mock disaster drill and a workshop on runway maintenance, 
safety, and security.  Regarding GON approval of U.S. Air Marshals, 
Omotoba reaffirmed that the Ministry is supportive and agreed to 
inquire why the National Security Agency has not moved forward with 
a decision.  He stated that the Ministry needs additional assistance 
with airport scanners, especially luggage scanners.  The Ambassador 
said she would have the Mission's INL officer discuss possibilities 
with his staff.  End Summary. 
 
Framework for Partnership 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met with the new Minister of Aviation 
Babatunde Omotoba on March 5, with EconOff as notetaker.  The 
Ambassador provided an overview of USG efforts in Nigeria noting 
that those objectives were based on four pillars that The GON's 
Seven Point Agenda, which is encompassed in the Mission's Framework 
for Partnership.  She explained that the Aviation Safety and 
Security Public Private Partnership (PPP) (reftel E) is part of this 
Framework for Partnership and the ultimate goal is to assist Nigeria 
in attaining FAA Category 1 certification by December 2009 (reftels 
G and D).  Omotoba thanked the Ambassador for the USG's assistance 
and partnership to date.  She shared with Omotoba that there is 
still a misunderstanding by a few operators in the civil aviation 
sector about Category 1 certification, Open Skies, and TSA 
requirement for Nigerian aircraft to fly direct to the U.S.  She 
then provided the Minister with detailed explanation of all three 
areas.  Omotoba admitted that there was confusion and thanked the 
Ambassador for her explanations as they helped clear up some of the 
confusion. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador and Omotoba agreed to move forward with an 
industry security meeting in March featuring speakers on security 
requirements from TSA; an April meeting featuring the FAA on 
Category 1 requirements for the regulator and the industry; and a 
May meeting with U.S. 17th Air Force of Africa Command to assist 
with a mock disaster drill and a workshop on runway maintenance, 
safety, and security. 
 
Delta's New Routes 
- - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador advocated for GON approval of two new routes 
for Delta Airlines from Abuja to Atlanta and Lagos to New York and 
explained that the multilateral Open Skies Agreement signed between 
the United States and Nigeria in 2000 grants traffic rights for 
carriers from both countries to fly into one another's territory. 
Omotoba said he understood the agreement, but that the GON will not 
approve new routes for Delta until the company improves its "very 
 
ABUJA 00000456  002 OF 003 
 
 
poor" customer service and provides "better planes" and service on 
the existing Lagos route.  Omotoba complained that Nigerians were 
treated "badly," luggage was often delayed or lost, and the 
airplanes on the Atlanta/Lagos route were "old with no modern 
amenities and frayed and broken seats."  He said he has flown 
extensively on U.S. carriers and knows that Delta has better planes, 
capable of better service, and should provide them on the Lagos to 
Atlanta route.  Omotoba contended that Nigeria was getting planes 
from the "scrape heap."  (Note: Delta's Senior Vice President for 
Network Planning Bob Cortelyou told EconOff, on the margins of the 
Ambassador's February 27 meeting, that Delta was flying Boeing 
767-300ER with a business elite and economy configuration, reftel B. 
 Delta's fleet has over 100 Boeing 767s, which play a significant 
role in both Delta's U.S. domestic and international operations and 
route traffic and frequency dictate the type of plane that is 
selected for routes.  Cortelyou said he selects the planes flown on 
the Lagos to Atlanta route and that if Delta bends on their current 
stand, it would set a "bad" precedent.  It is not clear when flying 
Delta from Lagos whether all the planes used are 767s.  End Note.) 
Omotoba said he appreciated the discussion about Delta and welcomed 
the Ambassador saying she would discuss with Delta his customer 
service concerns.  Omotoba reported that he has talked with United 
Airlines (UA), has invited them to fly to Nigeria and UA had 
expressed interest. 
 
More Assistance Requested 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶5. (SBU) Omotoba commented that the GON needed more scanners, 
especially for luggage and asked if it would be possible to receive 
more assistance.  The Ambassador noted the USG provided four 
scanners in 2008 at the Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Abuja 
international airports and that Kano and Port Harcourt airport 
scanners appeared to be unused.  She said the Mission's INL officer 
will contact the Ministry to discuss the possibility of additional 
scanners; but the Ministry will need to report back on the activity 
and use of the Kano and Port Harcourt airport scanners. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador reported that in March 2009 TSA will 
complete a security inspection of the Abuja airport.  Omotoba 
welcomed the inspection and will provide his Director of Safety and 
Technical Policy to coordinate the visit.  Regarding GON approval of 
U.S. Air Marshals, Omotoba reaffirmed that the Ministry is 
supportive and agreed to inquire why the National Security Agency 
has not moved forward with a decision. 
 
A Special Invitation 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The Ambassador delivered letters of invitation to Omotoba, 
the managing director of Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, and the 
director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority from the 
U.S. Trade and Development Agency inviting them to the U.S. and 
Sub-Saharan Africa: Partners in Aviation Safety and Security 
Conference in Cape Town, South Africa on April 27 - 29, 2009. 
Omotoba said he would respond to the USTDA invitation soon. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Aviation sector contacts had described Omotoba as 
"unfriendly" to foreign carriers and possibly in the "pocket" of its 
national carriers.  To the contrary, we found him very pro-U.S. 
Omotoba has in fact spent extensive time in the U.S. living in 
Chicago and has family there.  He was warm during the meeting and 
was especially pleased with the Ambassador's knowledge of his sector 
and the support that the USG has provided.  He also is a graduate of 
the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management - Northwestern 
University, Illinois.  The Mission has spent a lot of time and 
resources engaging the GON on aviation cooperation.  Omotoba and 
other GON officials happen to be ready to fully engage with the USG. 
 If the GON and domestic industry follow the steps set forth from 
both TSA and FAA, then they can expect substantial and sustainable 
progress towards improving safety and security and increasing 
aviation ties. We will continue discussions with Delta on its on 
going customer service issues with the Nigerian authorities and 
public. 
 
ABUJA 00000456  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶9. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
 
SANDERS