215. Memorandum From Melvin H. Levine
of the National Security Council Staff to the Presidentʼs Assistant for
National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
2
Washington, July 11, 1972
[Page 1]
SUBJECT:
- Troublesome Relations with Nigeria
Stateʼs memo at Tab A flags for you the fact that weʼre having
difficulties these days with sub-Saharan Africaʼs largest country,
Nigeria. Obstacles have been thrown up to our desires to establish a
Regional Trade Center, to open another consulate, and to revive an
investment guarantee program. The tone various Nigerian officials are
taking with our people is also troublesome.
Two things have happened—First, General Gowon is personally unhappy that the U.S. has resumed
imports of Rhodesian chrome in violation of UN sanctions, an unhappiness apparently shared by other key
officials. Second, former Ambassador to the U.S. Joe Iyalla has become
number two man in the Foreign Ministry. Always a prickly customer with
us, Iyallaʼs feelings were hurt
because President Nixon would not
receive him for a farewell call last April (our Schedule Proposal was
turned down).
We are not the only ones with headaches in Nigeria. The UK is under fire for failure to oust the
white government in Rhodesia and France is still disliked because of the
assistance it gave to Biafra. One probable result of Gowonʼs displeasure with the West is
his decision to make his first state visit out of Africa to the USSR. At this stage, thereʼs not much for
us to do about this state of affairs, except watch it.
[Page 2]
Tab A
Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State
(Eliot) to the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs
(Kissinger)
Washington, July 7, 1972
Subject:
- Troublesome Relations with Nigeria
Although there is no crisis in our relations, you should know that
the Nigerian attitude toward the US has become increasingly
vexatious in recent weeks. We are beginning to encounter opposition
over the Department of Commerceʼs plan to establish a Regional Trade
Development Center in Lagos despite earlier indications that the
center would be welcomed. Similar hostility is surfacing regarding
our efforts to open a consulate in the oil center of Port Harcourt
and to revive the OPIC investment guarantee program. While we
continue to encounter a number of petty annoyances on such
administrative matters as visas and our Embassy leases, at least
some elements of Nigerian officialdom now seem intent on raising
obstacles to our longer range commercial and investment goals as
well. If nothing else, the abrasive tone that is creeping into their
handling of our requests is a matter for concern.
Until recently at least the self assertive and nationalistic mood
that has prevailed in Lagos since the end of the war has not had an
anti-US thrust nor prevented useful exchanges with Gowonʼs regime. The present
hardening of the Nigeriansʼ attitude has been a definite setback in
our improving relations. It seems to stem in some measure from
bitterness over U.S. resumption of Rhodesian chrome imports. In a
very emotional demarche last April, General Gowon complained of our
non-compliance with UN sanctions and
asserted that the U.S. does not share Nigeriaʼs urgent concerns on
Southern African issues. His
[Page 3]
displeasure on this subject has obviously
affected the rapport that our Ambassador was developing with him. In
addition we have had indications that Gowonʼs views are shared by other key FMG officials, including External
Affairs Commissioner Arikpo. Annoyance over the Byrd amendment was a
major reason the Nigerians took the lead on the recent OAU censure of the U.S. on Namibia and
apartheid.
There is a personal element as well. The former Ambassador in
Washington, Joe Iyalla, is now Permanent Secretary of the Ministry
of External Affairs. He still harbors resentments from the
difficulties he experienced here during the critical days of the
civil war. On top of this he was offended that he could not see the
President for a farewell call prior to his departure last April.
Assisted by a deputy long known for his antagonism to the U.S.,
Iyalla is in close touch
with members of the Supreme Military Council and probably has as
much influence on policy as Commissioner Arikpo. He undoubtedly
influences decisions regarding the U.S.
While the situation in Lagos bears watching, it does not seem to
require any special action on our part for now. Ambassador Reinhardt
will be voicing some of our concerns directly when he next sees
Arikpo. We may be able to mute some of our problems by frank
discussions with the new Nigerian Ambassador, John Garba, when he
arrives later this month. Garba comes highly praised for his
reasonableness and responsiveness by U.S. officials who have worked
with him over the years. When Garba does come we should do all we
can to expedite the presentation of credentials. It could be an
important factor in using his presence as a point of departure for
providing a better tone to our relations with Nigeria.
