US embassy cable - 02ABUJA211

UNCLAS ABUJA 000211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR, ASEC, NI 
SUBJECT:  NIGERIA: ICAO SECURITY MINISTERIAL 
 
REF: (A) STATE 3397 
 
 
1. Summary.  The GON supports USG positions within ICAO for 
the February Security Ministerial.  Minister of Aviation 
plans to lead the GON delegation in Montreal.  End Summary. 
 
 
2. Econoff presented Reftel demarche January 9 to Chief I.E. 
Awodu, Technical Assistant to the Minister of Aviation. 
Awodu could not immediately comment on Nigeria's position 
vis-a-vis the February ICAO Security Ministerial, but 
provided a written response on January 18.  The Ministry of 
Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority noted the 
achievements of the AVSEC Panel and agreed that Nigeria and 
other ICAO member-states should implement the newly revised 
standards as contained in Amendment 10 to Annex 17.  The NCAA 
"already ensures that checks are carried out at both domestic 
and international airports in the country" to prevent 
unlawful interference. 
 
 
3. One of the NCAA's highest priorities is to strengthen 
cockpit security.  Additional items have been prohibited from 
aircraft cabins, cockpit doors are to be reinforced and must 
be locked at all times, and access to the flight deck is now 
limited to operational crew.  NCAA believes that an ICAO 
mandated standard to protect the cockpit from forcible entry 
is a must. 
 
 
4. NCAA fully supports ICAO's Security Audit Program "to 
ensure a uniform level of security worldwide."  NCAA endorses 
the methodologies already in use for the ICAO Universal 
Safety Oversight Program, which include mandatory and 
universal participation and the sharing of non-sensitive 
information between member-states.  NCAA agrees that program 
administration should be carried out by the AVSEC Mechanism 
with a separate section dedicated to the Audit Program.  NCAA 
also agrees that to ensure universality of the program at 
this time, it may not be regionalized.  NCAA supports the 
compliance mechanism currently contained in the Universal 
Safety Audit Program.  Although Nigeria supports voluntary 
and unrestricted funding of the Audit Program, the GON does 
not have resources to commit. 
 
 
5. If desired, Post will fax the Department full text of the 
GON reply upon receipt of a conact name and fax number. 
 
 
6. Minister of Aviation (Dr.) Kema Chikwe plans to lead the 
GON delegation to the February Security Ministerial in 
Montreal. 
Jeter