LAGOS: SECOND LABOR UPDATE

UNCLAS LAGOS 001448 SIPDIS DOE FOR DAS JBRODMAN AND CGAYE TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS AND SRENANDER DOC FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION MARAD STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ STATE PASS EX-IM FOR JRICHTER AND KVRANICH STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND JEDWARDS STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT AND BTERNET E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB EPET KDEM PGOV NI SUBJECT: LAGOS: SECOND LABOR UPDATE REF: LAGOS 1429 ¶1. The Benin City rally to protest increased fuel prices was big and fortunately took place without major incident. When protestors reached the Governor's office complex, they found the gate locked. Rally organizers were not able to enter to present the letter of protest. Marchers started to become agitated until the Governor himself came out to receive the letter. ¶2. As happened in Lagos (reftel),unarmed police officials accompanied protestors. They estimated between 20,000 and 30,000 participants by the time the procession reached the Governor's office. The march stretched over approximately 20 kilometers. The next rally is planned for Kano on September ¶20. With Kano being the North's largest city, this next procession could even be larger. There will be a total of six marches, one for each geopolitical zone in Nigeria (reftel). BROWNE