NIGERIA: STRIKE SITREP DAY 5 - 1200 JULY 4

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001168 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2013 TAGS: ELAB EPET ENRG PGOV ASEC CASC NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: STRIKE SITREP DAY 5 - 1200 JULY 4 REF: A. A) ABUJA 1162 ¶B. B) ABUJA 1157 ¶C. C) ABUJA 1147 ¶D. D) ABUJA 1135 ¶E. E) ABUJA 1107 ¶F. F) ABUJA 1091 CLASSIFIED BY A/DCM BRIAN L. BROWNE; REASON: 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) Summary: The strike continued for a fifth day. Thus far, Abuja is quiet but there is a possibility of demonstrations after Juma,at prayers this afternoon )- not only in Abuja but in other Northern cities as well. There were no demonstrations in Abuja yesterday, but peaceful demonstrations were held elsewhere in the country. Apparently, Vice President Atiku has gotten involved and is taking an active, if not the leading, role as the GON negotiator with the NLC. There continued to be conflicting reports whether the sides are nearer to agreement. The President called a special meeting of senior officials to discuss the crisis late this morning. Prices for fuel and transportation continue to rise. End Summary ¶2. (U) This morning, Abuja has been quiet. Gas lines remain lengthy and transportation prices have risen steeply, making it hard for many average Nigerians to move about. Most businesses, including banks, remain understaffed and offer only minimal services. There is a potential for demonstrations after Juma,at prayer in Abuja and in other northern cities this afternoon. ¶3. (U) Peaceful demonstrations took place on Thursday in some cities, with the largest in Calabar. There were no reports of any confrontations with police. As opposed to the previous three days of the strike, there was no demonstration in Abuja. A police source told Poloff that there have been numerous arrests in the Abuja area of labor and student leaders. ¶4. (U) Vice President Abubakar Atiku apparently assumed a leading role on the GON side of the negotiations in Thursday night,s talks with National Labor Congress leaders. There were conflicting reports as to the degree of success in the talks. Some reports claimed NLC Leader Adams Oshiomole stated the strike would end on Friday, while others claimed the negotiators would take Friday off and talks would resume on Saturday. Either way, an emergency meeting was scheduled at the Presidential Villa for 1100 today. ¶5. (U) Fuel and transportation prices continue to rise. The price per liter of gasoline in Abuja was reported as high as naira 250. There have been reports of transportation costs in some areas reaching nearly ten times last week,s prices. There is also concern that farmers, particularly in the remote Northern agricultural areas, are losing already scant income because they cannot afford the much higher transportation costs being charged as a result of the price hike and the strike. ¶6. (U) NUPENG and PENGASSEN still plan to join the strike this weekend if talks do not produce an agreement. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: All Nigerians are feeling the pinch of the strike and most people are hoping that it ends today. However, for this to be resolved today, both labor and the GON will have to give in more than they would like. Atiku,s involvement may signal the GON is willing to take a more flexible tact. Atiku,s insinuation into the process may give the GON and Obasanjo a graceful way to relax its hard-line position. It may also put Atiku on the hot seat if the talks break down. JETER JETER