AVIATION FUEL SHORTAGES IN LAGOS DISRUPT MANY

UNCLAS LAGOS 000045 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PLEASE PASS FAA FOR ACONLEY, TRANSPORTATION FOR FAA; DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO FAA REP ED JONES; ROME PLEASE PASS TO TSA REP JOHN HALINSKI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB EAIR ECON EINV PREL PGOV NI SUBJECT: AVIATION FUEL SHORTAGES IN LAGOS DISRUPT MANY DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ¶1. (U) Summary: For the last week, domestic airline operators in Lagos have had to contend with shortages in aviation fuel (known as Jet A1). Many domestic flights have been delayed, consolidated or cancelled because of the supply problem. Local press reports hundreds of passengers stranded at the Murtala Muhammad Airport, in Lagos, since Wednesday, January 11. Many airlines have resorted to refueling in Abuja or Port Harcourt. International air travel has not yet been affected by the shortage, as many refuel from neighboring countries like Ghana. End summary. -------------- Background -------------- ¶2. (U) On January 11, aviation fuel scarcity hit airlines operating out of Lagos, when tanker drivers distributing the product suspended their service. The drivers, under the aegis of Petroleum Truck Drivers Association, an arm of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG),are protesting the December 31 impounding of between 70 and 90 of their trucks, by Nigeria's Federal Aviation Authority (FAAN). FAAN impounded the trucks in preparation for the construction of a perimeter fence. The drivers protested FAAN's conditions that the drivers pay fees before their trucks were released and relocate them to a different location. -------------- Fuel Shortages -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Landover company Managing Director Edward Boyo complained Overland Airways and other domestic airlines were having to beg suppliers for fuel, something they did not have to do earlier in the week. He said it would take two or more days to have fuel supply meet demand, given current on-going tensions between FAAN and the strikers. Boyo expected delays to occur and said if a resolution were not reached soon, planes would have to refuel in neighboring countries like Ghana. ¶4. (SBU) Boyo said the striking truckers and FAAN had reached a compromise over payment of impound fees totaling naira 3.2 million. He said the striking truckers agreed to pay only naira 2.5 million, while FAAN agreed to pay naira 700,000. (Note: This comment is unconfirmed). Lagos Murtala Muhammad International Airport Managing Director Taiwo Okuyiga said FAAN also agreed to immediately allow 36 diesel-operated trucks access to the previous location to appease the strikers' demands. HOWE