NIGERIAN EX-MILITANTS LOSE PATIENCE, DEMAND JOBS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002042 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS KCRM EPET ECON NI SUBJECT: NIGERIAN EX-MILITANTS LOSE PATIENCE, DEMAND JOBS Classified By: Acting DCM James P. McAnulty for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Niger Delta ex-militants demonstrated in front of Chevron Nigeria Limited facilities in Warri, Delta State, to protest the lack of jobs post-amnesty. Demonstrators reportedly carried placards claiming: "We want peace but provide us employment," "ex-militants want employment, skills acquisition," and "we are tired of violence, we want employment." According to the press, "hundreds" of youth participated in the November 9 demonstration. ¶2. (C) Chevron Executive Director for Public Affairs Femi Odumabo told ConGen EconOff on November 10, however, that no more than 50 ex-militants participated in the demonstration. Gbaramatu Youth Council President and former militant Sheriff Mulade likewise confirmed the demonstration, and told ConGen PolOff that the youths did not target the International Oil Companies (IOCs) alone. According to Mulade, youths staged protests in front of other potential employers such as the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC). ¶3. (C) Mulade claimed that the youths, who possess few relevant skills, have demanded excessive salaries. For example, he said, youth want to be paid 200,000 naira (about 1,350 dollars) per month as security guards. (In comparison, the Local Guard Force (LGF) at the U.S. Mission in Abuja earns about a thousand dollars less each month than what the militant youths requested.) Mulade, who currently works as an IOC consultant in community relations and environmental affairs, has a good grasp of what wages would be feasible and noted the amount requested is entirely beyond what any company can reasonably pay. ¶4. (U) Embassy and ConGen Lagos collaborated on this telegram. SANDERS