US embassy cable - 02ABUJA1467

UNCLAS ABUJA 001467 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
 
DEPT FOR INL AND AF 
. 
DOJ FOR ICITAP--BARR/BEINHART 
. 
NSC FOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JENDAYI FRAZER 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM, PGOV, SNAR, NI 
SUBJECT: INSPECTOR GENERAL APPROVES POLICE REFORM PROJECT 
 
 
 Sensitive But Unclassified -- Protect Accordingly. 
 
 
1.(SBU) RNLEO met with Nigeria's new Inspector General of 
Police, Tafa Balogun, May 14 at Police Headquarters in Abuja 
to discuss the INL/ICITAP Police Reform Project.  This 
meeting followed a late April introductory call on Balogun by 
Ambassador Jeter who pushed for the IGP's early approval of 
this important project so that implementation could commence 
quickly. 
 
 
2.(SBU) Balogun was open in his endorsement of the project, 
noting that it would serve the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) 
well.  He disclosed that he had written the President on the 
proposed USG program.  According to Balogun, President 
Obasanjo issued instructions to accept the project in its 
entirety as this was an issue of great importance to him and 
something he had requested from the USG. 
 
 
3.(SBU) The IGP, however, raised one proposed change to the 
project.  He expressed the desire to have the Program 
Manager/Police Advisor (PM) based in Jos, rather than in 
Abuja.  He reasoned that the PM would have closer access to 
the project's training activity occurring in Jos, would enjoy 
better weather, and could travel to Abuja regularly.  RNLEO 
responded by noting that a senior Training Advisor is already 
slated to commence work in Jos in June; therefore, the 
training work in Jos is covered.  Moreover, the Project 
Manager would find it difficult to fulfill his 
responsibilities of overseeing all project activities and 
providing support to the IGP and others in NPF headquarters. 
 
 
4.(SBU) The meeting closed with Balogun pledging to write the 
Embassy formally to indicate his approval of the INL/ICITAP 
project and to give us his decision on the placement of the 
Program Manager/Police Advisor.  Balogun encouraged the USG 
to send the PM and training advisors to Nigeria as soon as 
possible.  He also requested RNLEO to hold discussions on the 
"nitty-gritty" of the project with senior NPF managers as 
soon as the project personnel arrive. 
 
 
5.(SBU) Comment:  At long last, the USG's police reform 
project is ready for launch and, Washington funding 
arrangements permitting, Embassy hopes for an early June 
formal start.  President Obasanjo's personal commitment to 
police reform was on display as he intervened to see this 
project through. 
 
 
6.(SBU)Comment Cont'd:  The resistance to putting the PM in 
Police Headquarters in Abuja -- and the attempt to sideline 
him in Jos -- most likely reflects nationalistic sentiment 
among some senior NPF managers and not Balogun's own views. 
Earlier informal comments offered by officials in the NPF and 
the Police Service Commission indicated some resistance among 
Balogun's seven Deputy Inspectors General to U.S. police 
officer resident in NPF Headquarters.  As such, Balogun's 
desired change was not a surprise.  It did not, however, 
appear cleared by the Presidency and, after RNLEO argued that 
the Police Advisor remain as planned in Abuja, it appears the 
IGP may give on this point. 
JETER