NIGERIA: NO MILITARY ACTION YET ON OIL RIG HOSTAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000810

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2013
TAGS: CASC ASEC EPET ENRG ECON PINS PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NO MILITARY ACTION YET ON OIL RIG HOSTAGE
CRISIS


REF: A. ABUJA 807

B. ABUJA 806

C. ABUJA 768


Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter for reason
1.5 (d).



1. (C) GON National Security Agency Military Assistant
Colonel Idris and State Security Service Director General
Kayode Are both told the Ambassador on May 2 that Nigerian
naval vessels near the four Transocean Sedco Forex rigs have
not yet taken any action. He indicated that a contingency
plan was in place, but that there was no specific deadline
for involvement of the military. Managing Director of
Transocean Sedco Forex Ian Clark also confirms May 2 that the
situation on the rigs is unchanged and there has been no
military action. Clark said he had instructed company
officials in Port Harcourt to contact naval officers in the
area to obtain assurances that no immediate military action
is planned.



2. (C) National Labour Congress President Adams Oshiomole
told the Ambassador he is hosting negotiations today between
the national leadership of the National Union of Petroleum
and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),who have condemned the
hostage taking, and local (Port Harcourt) NUPENG leadership
who support the action. Oshiomole hopes this meeting will
produce a negotiated settlement. Clark will also be at the
venue, but remain outside the meeting for parts of the
negotiations in order to give Oshiomole a chance to mediate
directly between the NUPENG members. Oshiomole indicated that
he remains in frequent contact with President Obasanjo on
this issue.



3. (C) The Ambassador will meet with Ministry of Labor and
Productivity Permanent Secretary Omotade to discuss a role
for GON pressure on the labor organizations to resolve the
crisis quickly and peacefully. Comment: Minister Gwadabe has
traveled to Kano to campaign for state assembly elections.
With the Minister out of the loop, we are now less hopeful
that the Ministry can be an effective agent to pressure the
trade unions toward a settlement. However, the Ministry's
interaction may not be as necessary as we thought given NLC
President Oshiomole's active pressure. We will continue to
actively engage with union leadership to clearly convey the
gravity with which the USG views this situation. Meanwhile,
in our communications with the GON leadership, we continue to
express our concern that negotiations be given every chance
to succeed and that military force not be used precipitously
to resolve the situation. End Comment.
JETER