LAGOS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RESOLVES AVIATION FUEL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000056

SIPDIS

STATE 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: DECL: 01/17/2016
TAGS: ELAB EAIR EINV PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: LAGOS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RESOLVES AVIATION FUEL
SHORTAGE

REF: LAGOS 45

Classified By: Acting Consul General William Howe
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary. Airline operators and the Federal Aviation
Authority (FAAN) confirmed aviation fuel is now available
(see reftel) and that tanker drivers are transporting Jet A1
fuel to fill the reservoirs at Lagos Murtala Muhammad
International Airport. Trucks that had been impounded by the
Presidential Task Force on Airport Sanitation were all
released on Monday, January 16. The Petroleum Tanker Drivers
Association (PTDA) and FAAN have resolved compensation
disputes. End Summary.


2. (C) Virgin Nigeria (VN) Head of Corporate Development,
Yemi Osindero, told us on January 16 that aviation fuel was
available for VN and other airlines after the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) intervened by providing
trucks to transport Jet A1 fuel. Landover Company Managing
Director Edward Boyo said NNPC also provided compensation to
tanker drivers to resolve disputes over impound fees. Vice
Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, Razak
Akanbi, said FAAN was allowing 36 diesel-operated trucks to
operate in the previous parking space area, and that all
impounded trucks were released Monday, January 16.


3. (C) NCAA Director General Harold Demuren said that tanker
driver unions complained parking space areas for tanker
drivers were limited and too small. Demuren agreed, but said
the Presidential Task Force had decided to impound and
relocate the trucks, a decision he did not support. He
argued, the Task Force should have found an alternative
parking space area for the tanker drivers and negotiated with
the tanker driver unions before impounding the trucks.
Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Director General
and member of the Presidential Task Force on Aviation, Roland
Iyayi, said the Task Force underestimated the response by the
tanker drivers, but made its decision based on safety and
fire hazard concerns. One hundred trucks crowded into one
parking area created liabilities, he said.


4. (C) Comment. Aviation authorities within Nigeria have
mixed views on the Presidential Task Force's decision to
impound tanker trucks. Those on the Task Force support the
decision. Others complain the Task Force is needlessly
"flexing" its muscles. The unilateral decision to impound
trucks comes after a horrible season for aviation with many
Nigerians missing this year's Hajj due to shortage of flights
and a Presidential directive to have VN divert its planes to
airlift pilgrims, causing numerous delays, disruptions, and
cancellations of flights. End Comment.
HOWE