US embassy cable - 01ABUJA1040

UNCLAS ABUJA 001040 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
AF/W FOR AMBASSADOR JETER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS, MARR, PREL, EFIN, NI 
SUBJECT: THE MPRI PAYMENT SAGA 
 
REF: ABUJA 442 
 
 
1. SUMMARY:  After numerous low, medium and high-level 
conversations with officials at the Ministry of Defense, 
Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, and the 
Presidency, Post believes payment of USD 3.2 million for the 
MPRI reprofessionalization program may be received within one 
week. (USD 300,000 is still pending foreign exchange approval 
from the Ministry of Finance.)  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
2. On May 7, EconOff spoke with Mr. Stephen Oshungboye, 
Director of Foreign Operations at the Central Bank of 
Nigeria, who said he had no records regarding the MPRI 
payment.  EconOff faxed Oshungboye copies of the April 18 
letter from the Minister of Defense to the CBN requesting 
electronic transfer of USD 3.2 million.  Post obtained a copy 
of the letter from the Minister of State for Army's office 
shortly after it was sent.  (COMMENT: The letter from the 
Minister of Defense was originally directed to Oshungboye. 
END COMMENT.)  According to materials supplied Post by the 
Ministry of Defense, the remainder (approximately USD 
300,000) of the USD 3.5 million is pending foreign exchange 
approval from the Ministry of Finance. 
 
 
3.  On May 8, Oshungboye informed EconOff that the check, 
which had accompanied the April 18 letter, had not been 
endorsed properly by the Ministry of Defense and had been 
returned to the Ministry for correction.  When asked how 
quickly the payment could be transferred once the corrected 
check is received, Oshungboye said that could take 24 to 48 
hours.  Subsequently, EconOff called Lawal Balarabe, Special 
Assistant to the Minister of State for the Army, who promised 
to expedite correction of the check that same day (May 8). 
 
 
4. Post will inform Department once the GON advises that the 
transfer has been effected. 
Andrews