Cablegate: July 12-19 Lagos Airport Security Assessment And

VZCZCXRO4214
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #1042/01 2091448
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281448Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7704
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0159
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0363
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0781
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1110
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001042

SIPDIS

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: JULY 12-19 LAGOS AIRPORT SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND
NORTH AMERICAN AIRLINES INSPECTION

1. (SBU) Summary. Members of the Nigerian Civil Aviation
Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN) met the Transportation and Security
Administration (TSA) team on July 19 to discuss measures to
improve aviation security at Lagos Murtala Muhammad
International Airport (MMIA). FAAN and NCAA officials agreed
on the need to improve perimeter fence security, enhance
access control, respond more effectively to crisis exercises,
and certify screeners at the national level. They requested
USG assistance to modernize their operations and upgrade
their crisis response capacity, including conducting Man
Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) threat assessments for
Lagos MMIA and Abuja International Airport. End summary.

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Background
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2. (SBU) In 2004, TSA sent a team to conduct an airport
assessment in response to World Airways' proposal to launch
direct air services from Lagos to New York. The 2004 team
recommended NCAA/FAAN officials create a separate civil
aviation security regulation, a national cargo program,
improve their national training program guidelines, and allow
NCAA to regulate FAAN aviation security training. In 2006, a
follow-up TSA team inspected Lagos MMIA operations from July
12-19, and noted the following positive developments: a new
civil aviation bill that is pending approval, the creation of
a national cargo program, improved training guidelines, and a
new security department within the NCAA to regulate aviation
security. TSA team members included: Rome Representative
Halinski and Senior Aviation Inspectors Reid and Moorgan.

3. (SBU) The TSA team inspected North American Airlines
flight operations on July 17 and July 19. They were
satisfied with passenger screening procedures, aircraft
search procedures, baggage checks, and cargo screening. The
major lapse was the passenger walk-through screening machine
was inoperative during both NAA's July, 17 and July, 19
flights. They pointed this out to their Nigerian
counterparts, recommending prompt repair. A NAA official
told us July 28 the machine is still not functional. (Note:
While a functioning passenger walk-through screening machine
is not a TSA requirement, it greatly enhances a screener's
ability to detect contraband. End note.)

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TSA Identifies Need for Improved

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Perimeter Fence and Access Control
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4. (SBU) The TSA team met NCAA Director General, Harold
Demuren, at NCAA headquarters on July 19 to discuss aviation
security at Lagos MMIA. Demuren agreed the NCAA needed to
improve perimeter fence security by repairing holes in the
fence, conducting routine maintenance, and clearing the fence
line of excess foliage and plant overgrowth to prevent
unauthorized access. He welcomed TSA's recommendation to
improve airport access control by updating employee and
vehicular Identification (ID) badges on an annual basis.

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Improve Crisis Response Capabilities;
Certify Screeners at the National Level
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5. (SBU) The TSA team met FAAN Lagos MMIA Chief Security
Officer B.O. Olatunji on July 17-19 to discuss crisis
response training. Olatunji and other FAAN security
officials appeared unaware of the specifics of a crisis
response hijacking exercise conducted in Abuja three months
ago. Demuren acknowledged the need to disclose the results
of crisis training exercises to a broader audience of
security personnel to improve the NCAA and FAAN's crisis
response capabilities.

6. (SBU) The TSA team met FAAN Aerodrome Department
inspectors July 17 to discuss the process for certifying
inspectors. Chief Designated Inspector A. Ajayi reported
that FAAN tested and audited inspectors ultimately rather
than through the NCAA. Demuren concurred that certification

LAGOS 00001042 002 OF 002

needed to occur at the national level and the NCAA, as
regulator, should be testing the FAAN inspectors for annual
re-certification.

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USG Assistance for MANPADS Threat Assessments
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7. (SBU) Demuren requested USG assistance modernizing NCAA
operations and upgrading their management response capacity
to enable Nigeria to obtain U.S. Federal Aviation Authority
(FAA) Category 1 status. He requested USG assistance to
conduct Man Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) threat
assessments for Lagos MMIA and Abuja International Airport.

8. (SBU) Demuren said the success of North American Airlines
would lure other airlines to enter the Nigerian aviation
market. Aviation security would become even more important
as other airlines, specifically Nigerian airlines such as
Arik Air and Bellview, began direct flights to the U.S. He
said the Aviation Ministry is also pursuing Continental and
Delta airlines to enter the Nigerian market. He envisioned
these airlines would offer expanded direct air service routes
from Lagos to various U.S. cities including Atlanta, Houston,
Miami, and Los Angeles.

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Comment
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9. (SBU) The July 12-19 TSA inspections highlighted areas in
which the NCAA and FAAN could improve airport security at
Lagos MMIA. Upgrading aviation security at Lagos MMIA and
other international gateway airports is crucial to obtain FAA
Category 1 status. The Aviation Ministry has addressed
previous aviation security concerns at Lagos MMIA, and has
shown a willingness to incorporate TSA recommendations into
their operations. We should continue to work closely with
them to upgrade and modernize their security operations.
NCAA and FAAN welcome the idea of sending a USG team to
conduct MANPADS threat assessments for Lagos MMIA and Abuja
International Airport. End comment.

10. (U) This cable has been cleared by TSA Rome
Representative John Halinski and Embassy Abuja.
BROWNE

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