CHEVRON DRAWS DOWN NON-ESSENTIAL WORKERS THROUGH

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000339 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR INR/AADOE FOR GPERSON, CGAY TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER 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 WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017 TAGS: EPET ENRG ASEC PREL PTER NI SUBJECT: CHEVRON DRAWS DOWN NON-ESSENTIAL WORKERS THROUGH MAY 29 Classified By: Consul General Brian Browne for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) On May 11, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) drew down non-essential staff on three rigs operating offshore in the Niger Delta. According to Femi Odumabo, Chevron General Manager for Government and Public Affairs, the drawdown includes both expatriate and Nigerian staff. It includes both employees of CNL and independent contractors working on Chevron projects. Odumabo did not know the exact number of employees affected. The drawdown will be in effect until President Obasanjo leaves office on May 29, Odumabo said, because of militant statements that they want to give Obasanjo a "big sendoff" to protest his neglect of the Niger Delta. The drawdown affects drilling and construction activities, but should have no immediate impact on production. BROWNE