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.

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Background
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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.

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Fuel Shortages
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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