VZCZCXRO3364
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0535/01 0890722
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300722Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5617
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 1036
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0153
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0416
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0369
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000535 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO 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/KAREN BURRESS AND 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/MCREED 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR ECON EAID ASEC ERTD EINV PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: AVIATION AIRPORT SECURITY WORKSHOP WITH TSA 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 456 
      ¶B. ABUJA 361 
      ¶C. ABUJA 204 
      ¶D. ABUJA 168 
 ¶E. LAGOS 40 
      ¶F. 08 ABUJA 2313 
      ¶G. 08 ABUJA 2207 
      ¶H. 08 ABUJA 194 
 
¶1. Summary.  Ambassador and the new Minister of Aviation, Babatunde 
Omotoba, opened the third workshop of the U.S. and Nigeria's Public 
Private Partnership (PPP on Aviation Airport Security and Safety on 
March 17.  The purpose of the PPP is to assist the GON in achieving 
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Category 1 certification 
(Reftels D and F).  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security - 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) both participated in the workshop to a 
standing room only crowd of aviation regulators and operators.  A 
TSA five member team briefed the participants on TSA's security 
assessment procedures.  The Ambassador explained that the purpose of 
the workshop was to ensure Nigerian air carriers understand their 
roles and the requirements to flying direct routes to the United 
States as per Category 1 requirements and guidelines.  Minister 
Omotoba thanked the USG for its continued support in assisting 
Nigeria in its quest for its Category 1 rating.  He confirmed that 
Nigeria has passed over 75% of the FAA requirements and hopes that 
TSA will approve of security procedures at the Abuja airport.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. On March 17, 2009, an aviation workshop sponsored by the U.S. 
Mission in collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation as part of a 
public private partnerhip (PPP) was held in Abuja.  The workshop 
focused on the security requirements needed for Nigeria to achieve 
FAA Category 1 status, in order for Nigerian airlines to fly 
directly to and from the United States.  The U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security - Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both participated in the 
workshop to a standing room only crowd of aviation regulators and 
operators.  The EPA representative is in Nigeria on a short term 
assignment as a science fellow.  The TSA Team was in Nigeria to 
conduct a security assessment of the Abuja airport, as a necessary 
step for Nigerian carriers to fly. 
 
¶3.  The Ambassador, in her opening remarks, said that this security 
workshop was the third in a series on aviation safety and security 
public private partnership (PPP) workshops.  She noted that the 
first PPP workshop was held in November 2008, and it established the 
critical steps that the Nigerian government (GON) and the private 
sector needed to take in order to attain Category 1 (Reftel F).  The 
second workshop took place on January 20 and focused on Search and 
Rescue (Reftel D).  The Ambassador explained that the objective of 
this workshop was for TSA to present and discuss its requirements 
for Nigerian airlines to fly direct to the U.S. once Category 1 
certification is attained.  The Ambassador congratulated Omotoba on 
the GON's commitment to upgrade airport facilities and expressed 
hope that the workshop will enhance bilateral co-operation in air 
travel. 
 
¶4. The Ambassador emphasized strong collaboration as a prerequisite 
to overcoming current obstacles and noted future workshops will be 
held to buttress the USG commitment.  Upcoming event are: 
-  An April meeting featuring the FAA discussing Category 1 
requirements for the regulator and the industry. 
-  A May meeting with the U.S. 17th Air Force, Africa Command to 
assist with a mock disaster drill, and a workshop on runway 
maintenance, safety, and security to be held in Lagos (Reftel A). 
 
¶5. In his welcome address, Omotoba commended the collaboration 
between the United States and Nigeria in improving aviation safety 
and security.  He also praised the Ambassador's continued support 
especially through the workshops that have been held.  He noted that 
international air travel is crucial to Nigeria's development and 
will act as a catalyst to Nigeria's economy.  Omotoba announced that 
Nigeria's three designated carriers for U.S. air routes, Bellview 
Airlines, Arik Air, and Virgin Nigeria, have already been given 
"economic rights", which are required for foreign carriers, and are 
presently working on completing the next step in the process, 
operational specification. The Minister proudly commented that the 
GON has completed 50% of each of the eight critical steps needed for 
 
ABUJA 00000535  002 OF 002 
 
 
Category 1 certification (Reftels B and E).  He expressed confidence 
that the international airport in Abuja would pass the TSA security 
requirements, and be certified for direct travel to the U.S. (NOTE: 
The international airport in Lagos passed the TSA assessment in 
December 2007. 
 
¶6. At the workshop break-out sessions focused on: 
- Transfer and transit passenger-disaster and emergency procedures. 
- Preparing for a terrorist hijacking, what to do, who does it. 
- Establishing a layered approach to authority. 
- Security within an aircraft. 
- Passenger, baggage and cargo security. 
- Security environment and surveillance detection. 
- Securing the airport perimeter. 
- Access control and aircraft protection measures. 
- Procedures in restricted areas for airport operation. 
- Clearing procedures for persons and vehicles. 
- A background checks system for employees. 
- Controls for gates, doors and entry. 
- Passenger and cabin baggage screening. 
- Screening check point measures 
 
COMMENT 
------ 
 
¶7. Nigerian participation in the workshop was intense and 
enthusiastic.  The participants were very engaged and sought more 
information.  There has been a consistent theme at each workshop to 
date - the Nigerian aviation industry hungers for more training and 
appreciates the USG's commitment.  Category 1 certification has 
taken on symbolic stature outside the aviation sector and is 
considered a potential landmark step in development.  The Nigerians 
are eager to work closely with the USG on next steps and understand 
the importance of the upcoming workshops in Lagos. 
 
¶8. This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
 
SANDERS