Cablegate: Nigeria: Embassy Welcomes Codel Johnson, August

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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111446Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3650
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0170
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0085
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 9782
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES 0001
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001594

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: EMBASSY WELCOMES CODEL JOHNSON, AUGUST
18-20

REF: STATE 85391

ABUJA 00001594 001.2 OF 002

1. U.S. Mission Nigeria warmly welcomes the visit of
Congressmen Hank Johnson, Phil Gingrey and Jean Schmidt, as
well as other accompanying members of their delegation, to
Abuja, Nigeria from August 18-20, 2008. Embassy Abuja will
work to schedule requested meetings. The Mission looks
forward to greeting the delegation upon its arrival.

2. Control Officer for the visit is Cheryl Fernandes.
Contact information is:
234-9-461-4219 (OFFICE)
234-803-665-1166 (CELL)
FernandesCL/at/state.gov

Administrative Point of Contact for the visit is John
Heinbeck:
234-9-461-4157 (OFFICE)
234-803-408-0949 (CELL)
234-9-461-4305 (FAX)
HeinbeckJC/at/state.gov

3. The Embassy has reserved rooms at the Protea Hotel
Asokoro. Rooms include free WiFi internet access and an
in-room computer for use free of charge. Breakfast is
not/not included. The hotel address is: Bola Ige Close,
Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria and phone number is 234-803-408-0591.

4. Please note that visas are required for entry into Nigeria
and must be obtained prior to traveling. Airport visas are
not available.

5. SECURITY: There is no specific terrorist threat against
American citizens or American interests in Nigeria. Rather,
the main threat to U.S. citizens and U.S. interests is mostly
criminal based upon prevailing economic conditions. Violent
crime is endemic throughout the country. Armed street
robberies, carjackings, sexual assaults, residential
burglaries and credit card fraud threaten every person in the
country, foreigners and Nigerians alike. U.S. citizens and
official travelers have not been singled out, but they are
generally perceived to be affluent and are subject to the
same threat as all other persons in Nigeria. There have also
been incidents of violent communal unrest outside Abuja and
Lagos during the past several months, and innocent bystanders
have suffered. RSO has determined that most violent crimes
around Abuja take place between the hours of 2300 - 0600.
Embassy Abuja will arrange for appropriate security details
to accompany the delegation.

6. MEDICAL: Malaria prophylaxis should be started one week
before arrival, continued through the length of stay and at
least four weeks after departure. Visitors must ensure that
their immunizations are up-to-date and carry their entire
yellow book shot record with them. Avian influenza is
present in Nigeria among birds.

7. Further information on travel in Nigeria is available at
the following State Department website:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis pa tw/cis/cis 987.html

8. Draft Schedule:

AUGUST 18:
1935 Arrival in Abuja on mil air from Addis Ababa
Proceed to Protea Hotel Asokoro, Abuja
RON at hotel

AUGUST 19:
0900 Country Team Briefing at U.S. Embassy
1000 AFRICOM Briefing at U.S. Embassy
1200 Meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives
Dimeji Bankole
TBD Meeting with key Senate members
TBD Meeting with Chief of Defense Staff GEN O.A. Azazi
TBD Meeting with National Security Advisor MAJ GEN Sarki
Mukhtar (ret)
TBD Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe

ABUJA 00001594 002.2 OF 002

1800 Reception in honor of Codel Johnson at Charge
d'Affairs' residence

AUGUST 20:
1000 Departure via mil air to Naples
PIASCIK

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