US embassy cable - 04LAGOS2120

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 002120 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/EPS AND AF/W 
 
FAA PLEASE PASS TO FOREST RAWLS III 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR, EAID, ECON, ETRD, PTER, NI 
SUBJECT: SAFE SKIES FOR AFRICA REVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION NIGERIA TRANSPORTATION PROJECT 
 
REF:  STATE 203125 
 
1.  (U) This Message Responds To Reftel 
Request For Post's Assessment. 
 
2. (U) Nigeria is not technically part of the Safe 
Skies for Africa Program (SSFA), but has received very 
similar assistance under a parallel program combined 
with port security called the Nigeria Transportation 
Project.  The program is managed by DOT, in tandem with 
the SSFA program and Nigeria is considered "active" 
SSFA for discussion purposes.  In the five years since 
the DOT Nigeria Transportation Project was initiated, 
Nigeria has made significant strides towards improving 
aviation and, to a lesser extent, port facilities. 
Prior to the Nigeria Transportation Project, aviation 
service between the US and Nigeria had been suspended 
since 1993.  Port services were rendered by untrained 
port security personnel with no meaningful oversight 
from senior port authorities.  Today aviation security 
and safety is vastly improved, with Category One status 
for aviation safety within Nigeria's reach.  Port 
services, too, are improving. 
 
3. (U) Meeting aviation goals, step by step: Aviation 
service in Nigeria, specifically security, was 
sufficiently lacking that, in 1993, the FAA suspended 
direct flights to the US.  In large measure, thanks to 
the DOT Nigeria Transportation Project and aviation 
security technical assistance rendered by the former 
FAA Security, aviation security improved materially and 
the suspended ban was lifted in December 1999.  Other 
aviation achievements include: 
 
-- August 2000 open-skies agreement reached between the 
US and Nigeria.  The agreement facilitated three direct 
air services between Nigeria and the United States, 
accomplished with wet lease arrangements and a charter 
service.  These direct services have since failed for 
commercial reasons, but we anticipate Continental 
Airlines will begin direct service to Nigeria in early 
2005.  This would be the first scheduled direct service 
by a U.S. carrier to the African continent in more than 
10 years. 
-- Various technical assistance programs in the areas 
of aviation safety oversight, air navigation services, 
airport security and training capability with the 
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Airspace 
Management Agency, Federal Airports Authority of 
Nigeria, and the Nigerian College of Aviation 
Technology. 
-- Purchasing and installation of security screening 
equipment worth more than $2.5 million for Lagos, Kano, 
Port Harcourt and Abuja airports.  In addition training 
was provided to some 120 screeners. 
 
4. (U) Progress at the ports: Nigerian ports are of 
international importance, and a portion of the world's 
oil security depends on their accessibility.  The DOT 
Nigeria Transportation Project helps to ensure progress 
in security, stability and liberalization at the ports. 
Thus far, achievements include: 
-- Full port security and environmental assessment, 
-- Training courses for more than 150 Nigerian Port 
Authority personnel, 
-- Seminar on oversight and anti-corruption for 
Ministries of Transportation and Aviation. 
 
5. (U) Project Results: Aviation infrastructure, safety 
and security in Nigeria are greatly enhanced as a 
direct result of the USAID/DOT-funded Nigeria 
Transportation Project.  Missions led by the Office of 
the Secretary, as well as FAA visits and TSA 
inspections, have generated favorable reports of 
Nigeria's strides in these areas. 
 
6. (U) The DOT Nigeria Transportation Project plays a 
critical role in helping to secure US-Nigerian trade in 
petroleum.  Further improvements in access to Nigeria's 
exit and entry points would improve Nigeria's trading 
prospects and help make Nigerian goods more competitive 
on the world market.  These upgrades would also make 
Nigeria a more attractive market for U.S. business and 
investment.  Mission looks forward to continued 
collaboration with the Department of Transportation on 
these important endeavors. We hope to discuss areas of 
future cooperation at the October 25-29 Safe Skies for 
Africa Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. 
 
BROWNE