US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1743

S E C R E T LAGOS 001743 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 
TAGS: CASC, EAIR, NI, ASEC, PTER, PREL 
SUBJECT: BELLVIEW CRASH: AVIATION MINISTER ACCEPTS 
ADDITIONAL FORENSIC ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: LAGOS 1734 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 (B) and ( 
D) 
 
1.  (S) Aviation Minister Borishade met Consul General to 
discuss next steps in the investigation of the crash, given 
our concerns regarding the plane fragment recently found 
(reftel).  The Minister stated he had briefed President 
Obasanjo on the new evidence.  According to Borishade, the 
President had instructed the Director of the State Security 
Service (SSS) to form a small team of his best forensic 
explosives experts to lead the criminal aspects of the 
investigation.  Borishade added that a perimeter fence around 
the site and additional police support were being provided. 
In light of the new evidence, Consul General informed 
Borishade we were bringing in additional USG explosives and 
fingerprint forensic experts to help.  The Minister assented 
to this augmentation.  The Minister agreed to our suggestion 
to convene a coordination meeting between the SSS and the 
additional USG forensics experts upon their arrival. 
 
2.  (S) The Minister agreed that, in light of continuing 
uncertainty about the cause of the crash and also as a 
precaution against compromising any aspect of this 
investigation, information about the new evidence must be 
kept confidential until thoroughly investigated.  He agreed 
that any public statements would not touch on the details of 
any evidentiary findings but would be general statements that 
the investigation was ongoing and that any factual 
conclusions would have to wait until the investigation was 
over. 
 
3.  (S) Minister Borishade stressed it was essential for the 
Nigerian aviation industry that something constructive come 
out of the tragedy, and that his Ministry would need help to 
implement the lessons learned during the investigation to 
avoid mistakes in the future. 
 
4.  (S) Turning to the condition of the Lagos airport runway, 
Borishade said he is considering hiring experienced airport 
operations management personnel from abroad to oversee the 
international airports at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and 
Kano, out of concern the necessary expertise is not available 
in Nigeria.  Borishade has discussed this with the President, 
who agreed, but adequate funding must be provided.  (Note: 
In a November 8 courtesy call, incoming British Deputy High 
Commissioner told Consul General that British Airways and 
other European-based international carriers serving Lagos 
were seriously considering cancelling that service until the 
lone barely functioning runway was resurfaced.  He stated 
that the High Commission, joined by his Spanish, Italian, 
German and Dutch counterparts, was going to make this 
demarche to President Obasanjo in the next week or two.  End 
note). 
 
5.  (S) Comment:  The discovery of evidence of a possible 
explosion has finally registered on the Minister the need to 
tighten security and control access to the crash site.  The 
ready acceptance of additional USG forensic support is an 
additional sign that GON recognizes it needs help if it ever 
hopes to unravel this unfortunate and tragic puzzle.  End 
Comment. 
BROWNE