Cablegate: Inspector General Approves Police Reform Project

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

141600Z May 02

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

© Scoop Media