WIKILEAKS: PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA'S "USEFUL" LONDON VISIT, JULY 16 - 17, 2008

Telegraph (UK)

4 February 2011

WIKILEAKS: PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA'S "USEFUL" LONDON VISIT, JULY 16 - 17, 2008

Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks 9:00PM GMT 04 Feb 2011


Ref ID: 08LONDON1916

Date: 7/23/2008 11:03

Origin: Embassy London

Classification: CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN

Destination: 08ABUJA1347

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The Niger Delta ---------------

4.(C) Brown spoke about the Niger Delta in terms of the U.S.-UK Niger Delta Engagement non-paper (without specifically mentioning the paper). In response, Yar'Adua requested security capacity support, specifically training and assets, for the joint task force. Yar'Adua said he was also planning to engage the USG on security issues, but also looked forward to working with the UK bilaterally. In addition to "re-invigorating the UN's role in the peace process," he said the GoN needed to improve its intelligence operations in the Delta. Mentioning the need to address "blood oil" and reducing the trade of small arms as possible ways forward, he suggested that the Gulf of Guinea Security Strategy be re-invigorated.

5.(C) In his meeting with Brown, and later at a reception with Nigerian expatriates, Yar'Adua acknowledged that the GoN was not paying its share of the joint oil venture agreements. He said it was vital to tackle corruption in the Delta in order to ensure that the GoN could properly fund the joint ventures.

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Comment -------

10.(C/NF) After Yar'Adua's positive and useful visit to London, HMG is keen to move forward on plans to help address the situation in the EFCC and stabilize the Niger Delta. While the issue of "blood oil" attracted some attention in some quarters of HMG, the FCO continues to advocate internally for real and practical solutions. They are making specific efforts to ensure that the Nigerian idea of "finger printing" oil barrels does not distract attention from the real problems in the Delta. FCO contacts report HMG is willing to consider the idea of oil finger printing in order to build on a Nigerian solution to the problem, but that HMG efforts will be focused on more immediate solutions. They welcome the opportunity to dovetail their efforts and follow-on engagement with USG plans.