Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAGOS1449
2006-12-27 16:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
FUEL SHORTAGES, POVERTY ARE BACKDROP TO PIPELINE
how-toVZCZCXRO4783 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #1449 3611654 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 271654Z DEC 06 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8317 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 8154 INFO RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0054 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0026 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0033 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0065 RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001449
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: EPET ENERG SOCI ASEC PTER NI
SUBJECT: FUEL SHORTAGES, POVERTY ARE BACKDROP TO PIPELINE
EXPLOSION
Classified By: Consul Alan Latimer for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001449
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: EPET ENERG SOCI ASEC PTER NI
SUBJECT: FUEL SHORTAGES, POVERTY ARE BACKDROP TO PIPELINE
EXPLOSION
Classified By: Consul Alan Latimer for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Fuel leaking from a pipeline breached by vandals in
the early hours of December 26 exploded, killing 269 people
and injuring an additional 160 persons in the blast and
ensuing fire, according to the Nigerian Red Cross. Early
press reports put the number of deaths at 700, and some
reports placed the number closer to 1,000.
2. (C) According to Dr. Levi Adjuonuma, General Manager for
Public Affairs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC),residents of the crowded Abule Egba district were
scooping the escaping oil into plastic canisters when the
fuel ignited. As reported in the media, Lagos had been
experiencing a fuel shortage during the three week run-up to
the Christmas/New Years/Eid el Adha holiday season, a period
during which Nigerians travel to their home villages to spend
the holidays with their families. Queues at gas stations
reached for blocks and public transportation was in short
supply. The market price of fuel, which is usually Naira 65
per liter, soared to Naira 200 per liter.
3. (C) According to Adjuonuma, another pipeline had been
vandalized earlier in the month; that incident went
unreported by the media but exacerbated an already existing
fuel shortage. An oil industry contact blamed bad planning
by oil importers who had inadequate supplies scheduled for
delivery at Lagos port. Another industry contact placed the
blame for the shortage on NNPC officials who reportedly
delayed authorization to off-load fuel for a week until
guaranteed a slice of the profits. The contact also
indicated that the NNPC is behind in paying importers for
fuel.
4. (C) Comment: NNPC warned the public of the dangers of
trafficking in illegally bunkered fuel only days before the
incident. However, the Nigerian lower class is struggling to
make ends meet. With many families unable to afford school
fees for their children or even breakfast for every child
every day, income from illegally bunkered fuel is too
tempting for them to ignore.
BROWNE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR SLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016
TAGS: EPET ENERG SOCI ASEC PTER NI
SUBJECT: FUEL SHORTAGES, POVERTY ARE BACKDROP TO PIPELINE
EXPLOSION
Classified By: Consul Alan Latimer for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Fuel leaking from a pipeline breached by vandals in
the early hours of December 26 exploded, killing 269 people
and injuring an additional 160 persons in the blast and
ensuing fire, according to the Nigerian Red Cross. Early
press reports put the number of deaths at 700, and some
reports placed the number closer to 1,000.
2. (C) According to Dr. Levi Adjuonuma, General Manager for
Public Affairs, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC),residents of the crowded Abule Egba district were
scooping the escaping oil into plastic canisters when the
fuel ignited. As reported in the media, Lagos had been
experiencing a fuel shortage during the three week run-up to
the Christmas/New Years/Eid el Adha holiday season, a period
during which Nigerians travel to their home villages to spend
the holidays with their families. Queues at gas stations
reached for blocks and public transportation was in short
supply. The market price of fuel, which is usually Naira 65
per liter, soared to Naira 200 per liter.
3. (C) According to Adjuonuma, another pipeline had been
vandalized earlier in the month; that incident went
unreported by the media but exacerbated an already existing
fuel shortage. An oil industry contact blamed bad planning
by oil importers who had inadequate supplies scheduled for
delivery at Lagos port. Another industry contact placed the
blame for the shortage on NNPC officials who reportedly
delayed authorization to off-load fuel for a week until
guaranteed a slice of the profits. The contact also
indicated that the NNPC is behind in paying importers for
fuel.
4. (C) Comment: NNPC warned the public of the dangers of
trafficking in illegally bunkered fuel only days before the
incident. However, the Nigerian lower class is struggling to
make ends meet. With many families unable to afford school
fees for their children or even breakfast for every child
every day, income from illegally bunkered fuel is too
tempting for them to ignore.
BROWNE