Cablegate: Airport and Seaport Security Assessment
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
091020Z Nov 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001742
SIPDIS
STATE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY,
TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED
JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR EINV PREL NI
SUBJECT: AIRPORT AND SEAPORT SECURITY ASSESSMENT
1. (SBU) Summary. Members of the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and
the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) met with the
Contingency and Security Solutions International (CSSI) team
October 17-18 to discuss efforts to improve maritime port and
aviation security, seaport and airport modernization, and
areas in which U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
funding could be possible. FAAN and NCAA officials
emphasized the need for more training, including the
establishment of regional aviation security training centers,
and requested assistance modernizing their operations and
upgrading management capacity. End Summary.
----------
Background
----------
2. (SBU) USTDA sent a Definitional Mission to Nigeria in
November 2002 to review several port sector projects that
were presented to USTDA by the NPA. Specifically, four
projects were reviewed to tackle problems in the Nigerian
port sector: the creation of an integrated computerization
system to operate and manage the Nigerian ports system,
improving efficiency in Lagos Ports Complex (Apapa Port,
Apapa Container Port Terminal, Roro Port and Tin Can Island
Container Port Terminal), expanding the Onne Free Port Zone,
and developing a Deep-Sea port in Nigeria.
--------------------------------------------- -----
Integrated Computerized System for Ports Requested
--------------------------------------------- -----
3. (SBU) The CSSI team met the CEO of NPA, Adebayo Sarunmi,
at NPA headquarters on October 17 to discuss modernizing
Nigeria's seaports. Adebayo said three port terminals were
constructed through USG assistance and stated the development
of a Deep-Sea port and the Niger Dock improvement project
were underway. He requested USTDA assistance to build an
integrated computer port management system to trace equipment
and containers and to integrate the computers at the NPA
offices with computers at the ports. He complained Nigeria
should be the maritime hub for West Africa, but that customs
delays, fiscal difficulties, and a host of other
inefficiencies caused Nigeria to lose out to different ports.
He believed the automated computer project would improve NPA
efficiency. Sarunmi also welcomed USG assistance in creating
a regional maritime security-training center, but mentioned
that a British security-consulting firm currently offered
port security courses that met NPA training needs.
----------------------------------------
Airport Security And Establishment
of West African Security Training Center
----------------------------------------
4. (SBU) The CSSI team met FAAN Aviation Security General
Manager Adeshola Faworaja and Director of Airport Operations
Desmond Ugwu on October 17 to discuss airport security.
Faworaja asked for USG assistance in acquiring check baggage
screening equipment including drug detection equipment. In
addition, she requested help obtaining x-ray and explosive
trace screening machines, an access control system, video
surveillance equipment, and assistance in upgrading runway
lighting and signage. Declaring background security checks
on employees were not adequate, Faworaja welcomed CSSI's
proposal regarding the establishment of an USTDA-sponsored
regional aviation security-training center in Lagos.
5. (SBU) The Director of the Directorate of Aviation Safety
and Security, Balarabe Usman, told us October 17 that recent
firings and administrative changes within FAAN would not
affect FAAN's focus on security. He said security would
remain the most important priority for him. He said he told
President Obasanjo when appointed Director, that "airports
are a national monument, any attack on the airport is an
attack on the nation, and that FAAN does not want to
compromise security". Usman emphasized that while he
supports privatization of airports, security regulations and
operations would remain within his organization's domain.
6. (SBU) NCAA Director General Fidelis Onyeyiri met the CSSI
team on October 18 to discuss the NPA record on airport
security and requested assistance in creating an airport
operations manual. He said Aviation Minister Borishade was
interested in requesting DOT/FAA assistance developing NCAA
regulations, particularly security and aerodrome regulations.
Onyeyiri also said visitor security was a major problem and
requested screening machines including magnatometers, metal
detectors, trace detectors and x-ray machines to improve
airport security.
-------
Comment
-------
7. (SBU) The October 17-18 Lagos meetings highlighted the
areas in which the NPA, FAAN, and NCAA could benefit from USG
assistance. Nigerian seaports are notorious for long delays,
congestion, equipment breakdown, and lack of proper
maintenance procedures and schedules. Nigerian airports have
had problems with runway safety, aquaplaning, on-ground
communications, security, and flight delays. Upgrading
marine port and aviation security is crucial if Nigeria is to
reach its maritime and aviation potential. FAAN and NCAA
welcome the idea of a regional aviation security training
concept.
8. (SBU) The CSSI team had serious concerns about the ability
of international or domestic terrorists to block access to
all Nigeria's ports by sinking a single ship in the
relatively narrow channel. The NPA expressed a strong desire
for increased waterfront security. The NPA envisioned the
need for a well-trained and supervised maritime patrol unit
to provide waterside protection for the ports and also for
ships anchored off-shore awaiting entrance to the ports.
This could deter piracy, which the NPA has stated has become
a problem. End Comment.
Members of the USG team included: CSSI CEO Clayton Scott,
CSSI Security Consultant David Ryder, and Econoff/notetaker
Ken Reiman.
This cable has been cleared by Contingency and Security
Solutions International CEO Clayton S. Scott.
BROWNE