NIGERIA NATIONWIDE STRIKE SITREP #3: OCTOBER 13

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 002096 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PGOV EPET KDEM ECON NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA NATIONWIDE STRIKE SITREP #3: OCTOBER 13 REF: A. LAGOS 2072 ¶B. ABUJA 1727 This is a joint report from Embassy Abuja and Consulate Lagos. ¶1. (U) Summary: The nationwide strike in Nigeria continues to be well-observed throughout most of Nigeria. Of major cities, Abuja apparently has been least affected by the strike. Despite on-going negotiations and intervening court cases, the strike will likely continue tomorrow on what should be the final day of this initial phase of the strike. However, labor leaders threatened to prolong the initial stay-at-home period because of deaths/casualties/arrests of strike participants. Oil production remains unaffected. There have been no reported security incidents involving American citizens. End Summary. -------------- Political Developments -------------- ¶2. (U) A National Labor Congress (NLC) contact told us the GON had filed suit with an Abuja High Court seeking permanent injunction barring the NLC from continuing the strike. The contact said the suit was designed to force the NLC to suspend the strike until the court could hear the case, which could take months. If the court ruled against the NLC, NLC leaders would be forced to choose between calling off the strike or risking court sanctions, including possible arrest. ¶3. However, an official at the Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity told Embassy Abuja she did not think the GON is seeking an injunction against the NLC. Rather, she believed, the hearing today was on an appeal filed by the GON against the injunction the NLC won earlier preventing the GON from raising fuel prices. Mission was unable to confirm either report or to ascertain the outcome of the court proceedings. (COMMENT: Both sides are going to court to try to gain legal justification for their positions. What happens in the court, however, may be insignificant because at bottom, this is a test of competing political wills and agendas. End comment.) -------------- Reports from around the Country -------------- ¶3. (U) LAGOS: An NLC monitoring team reportedly was attacked October 12 by a gang at Ojuelegba round-about. Another NLC team clashed with police yesterday at Iyana-Ipaja. No serious injuries were reported. Today, "area boys" are burning tires, blocking traffic, and harassing motorists in the Aja area. International flights are operating normally, but domestic flights have been scaled back due to low numbers of passengers. Most filling stations remain closed today. Banks still report low staff turn-out; skeletal services are being rendered at head offices and most branches are closed. Contacts report that operations are significantly reduced at Lagos and outlying ports. Military and police officers were observed at the Lagos port facilities. ¶4. (U) Circumstances regarding the October 12 death of aviation union activist Jerry Agbeyegbe remain cloudy (ref b). Police initially claimed he died in a car accident; most other reports indicate he was shot in his car sometime during the early morning. The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and other aviation employee associations are expected to issue statements today calling for a judicial inquiry into the alleged killing. An autopsy is being conducted. ¶5. (U) AWKA: Newspapers reported that the nine labor leaders arrested on Monday were released on bail Tuesday, following a protest march and pleas for their release by other labor leaders. ¶6. (U) PORT HARCOURT: There was significant violence on October 12 around Eleme Junction, following the shooting death of an adult male (ref b). Fighting was also reported around the Shell residential area and the airport. The city is calmer today. The strike continues, but more vehicles are on the road and some shops and markets are open. Oil service company offices remain closed, but production operations remain unaffected. ¶7. (U) WARRI: The strike continues in Warri. Police patrol the streets. The commercial wing of the airport is closed. Few filling stations are attending customers. ¶8. (U) ONITSHA: There is more movement of people and traffic today. The main market and some government offices opened. National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was reportedly operating and collecting payments from customers. Some banks also opened. Most schools remain closed. ¶9. (U) IBADAN: Like yesterday, people are moving freely and schools are open. Most government offices remain closed. ¶10. (U) ENUGU: Public offices and schools remain closed. Commercial activities continue unaffected. ¶11. (U) KADUNA: Offices and schools remain closed. BROWNE