NIGER DELTA TIDBITS: SECURITY, POLITICS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000759

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGER DELTA TIDBITS: SECURITY, POLITICS,
DEVELOPMENT

Classified By: Acting Consul General Vicki Hutchinson for reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D)


1. (C) This cable provides updates to security and political
developments in the Niger Delta. These events occurred in
November and were not previously reported:

--Bonny Island Labor Skirmish Results in 3 Fatalities
--Delta: Joint Task Force-Uduaghan Prevent Itsekiri Attack on
Chevron
--Senate Delegation Visits Niger Delta
--Delta: Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development
Commission Employs Workers; Militants Calm
--Rivers: United Nations Cleanup in Ogoniland Remains Stalled

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Bonny Island Labor Skirmish Results in 3 Fatalities
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Two mobile police and one contract guard were killed,
five others wounded, at Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas's water
well access gate on Bonny Island, Rivers State, at
approximately 0300 on November 27. According to security
sources, this was not a militant attack. Drivers and
cleaners who were on strike outside the facility apparently
escalated their activities from rock throwing to more lethal
acts.

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Delta: JTF-Uduaghan Prevent Itsekiri Attack on Chevron
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Security contacts reported that the military Joint
Task Force (JTF) prevented hundreds of community youths or
hired gunmen from storming a Chevron facility near Ugborodo,
Warri in Delta State on November 25. According to press
reports, the Itsekiri youths belonging to the Niger Delta
Survival Front wanted to cripple Chevron operations due to
the company's failure to implement a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU). The press reports Governor Uduaghan was
instrumental in defusing the conflict; security sources
commented the JTF also performed quite well in this
incidence. Security sources did not believe that Tom Polo or
his followers were involved in this incident, though it is
likely they were aware of it.

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Senate Delegation Sees Niger Delta Neglect
Expresses Support for Increased Derivation
--------------


4. (SBU) A Senate Delegation passed a five-day retreat in
the Niger Delta in order to gain personal experience of the
region; they witnessed under development in Bayelsa and
environmental degradation in Akwa Ibom. The senators told
the press they were moved by the poverty and neglect and
expressed support for increased derivation, ecological
responses, improved rule of law, and accountability.
(Comment: The visit appears to have opened the senators' eyes
to the region; time will tell what approach they adopt in
Abuja to address the challenges. End Comment.)


5. (C) According to press reports, Senate President David
Mark took a group on an aerial tour of Delta State's creeks.
According to Sheriff Mulade, President of the Gbaramatu Youth
Council (GYC),Mark's visits to Tom Polo's Camp 5 and the
Gbaramatu Kingdom were cancelled because he failed to secure
Tom Polo's approval. Tom Polo and his militants reportedly
threatened the delegation and would not accept reconciliation
attempts by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development

LAGOS 00000759 002 OF 002


Commission (DESOPADEC) Chairman.

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DESOPADEC Employs Workers; Militants Calm
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6. (C) DESOPADEC is hiring administrative workers from oil
producing communities, according to a Delta State official.
These employment opportunities would calm the state's
militants until DESOPADEC is ready to begin projects. A
DESOPADEC delegation reportedly plans to familiarize itself
with oil refineries in Houston in preparation for
government-built refineries. The state government expects
Deltans trained at technical institutes to work in the
refineries.


7. (C) Comment: While local technical institutes offer
training, their equipment is poor, if they have any at all,
and most students graduate without practical experience,
contacts have griped. That the state government is looking
to boost employment in oil producing areas is a positive
sign. However, unless these efforts are given significant
resources, and used properly, this may be nothing but a short
term solution. Additionally, plans for new refineries are
tenuous at best. Recent activities in the state (para 3)
suggest not all groups are calmed by DESOPADEC's activities.
End Comment.

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UN Cleanup in Ogoniland Remains Stalled
--------------


8. (C) Legborsi Pyagbara, International Advocacy Officer for
the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP),
said MOSOP members are unsure of "what's happening" with
cleanup efforts relating to the United Nations Environmental
Program (UNEP). It appears UNEP has ignored a July agreement
which outlined cooperation and dialogue between UNEP and
MOSOP, he speculated; UNEP held a meeting in Geneva to
discuss cleanup options but did not invite MOSOP nor consult
them prior to recruiting community liaison officers. Since
MOSOP voiced these concerns with UNEP, recruitment has been
suspended and UNEP has met with the Ministry of Environment,
the UN Development Program (UNDP) in Nigeria, and MOSOP.
MOSOP is warily watching the UNDP's participation in this
process as the post-conflict branch which would be involved
is composed of former Shell employees and it appears Shell
would fund this cleanup project.


9. (C) Comment: While Pyagbara continued to express
reservations over the cleanup process, he did not discount
it. His comments suggested MOSOP would willingly participate
if they are fully included, as outlined in July. However,
since discussions have sporadically occurred over the past 18
months, it is unlikely cleanup efforts will begin anytime
soon. End Comment.


10. (U) This cable has been coordinated with Embassy Abuja.
HUTCHINSON