US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1727

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001727 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, PGOV, EPET, KDEM, ECON, NI 
SUBJECT: PARTIAL COMPLIANCE AS NATIONWIDE STRIKE ENTERS 
ITS SECOND DAY 
 
REF: LAGOS 2072 
 
1.  (U)  SUMMARY:  The nationwide sit-at-home strike 
called by the leadership of the NLC entered its second 
day October 12.  In Abuja, most streets and markets 
were active, but the doors of most commercial banks and 
filling stations were closed to customers.  In Lagos, 
the stock exchange and Central Bank were open, but only 
about 20 percent of venders were back at the markets. 
Many schools across the country are not operating as a 
result of the strike.  There were minor clashes in many 
parts of the country, although not Abuja.  An adult was 
killed by police in Port Harcourt and a 12-year old boy 
in Kaduna, in addition to the apparent murder of labor 
activist Jerry Agbeigbe in what was may have been an 
unrelated incident.  NLC leaders have called the 
strike, billed to run for four days, "a success" and 
maintain that the only solution is a return to the fuel 
subsidy.  END SUMMARY. 
 
AROUND NIGERIA 
 
2.  (U)  The second day in Abuja saw streets and 
markets active, but the doors of most commercial banks 
and filling stations closed to customers.  Many schools 
are also not operating as a result of the strike. 
Activities slowed at the Federal Secretariat and other 
GON offices due October 11, but they continue to 
operate. 
 
3.  (U)  NLC Leader Benson Ukpa told us that the police 
in Abuja laid siege to the NLC Secretariat yesterday 
and prevented labor leaders from organizing a peaceful 
procession in and around the city to monitor the 
strike.  The police also prevented labor leaders from 
walking to the Presidential Villa when President 
Obasanjo invited them.  The police said that "trek" 
would attract hoodlums and miscreants thereby causing a 
breakdown of law and order. 
 
4.  (U)  There has been more trouble in other parts of 
Nigeria.  Halliburton security personnel told ConGen 
Lagos that police shot and killed an adult male at the 
Eleme junction on the outskirts of Port Harcourt 
October 12.  In Kaduna, police yesterday shot and 
killed a 12-year boy after firing several shots at a 
group of demonstrators.  A stray police bullet aimed at 
the demonstrators reportedly hit the young boy on the 
head, shattering his skull and killing him instantly. 
The source added that the demonstrators, mostly 
unemployed youths, were denouncing the recent fuel 
price hike while calling on residents to observe the 
sit-at-home strike.  At least 40 demonstrators were 
arrested and a dozen sustained injuries during the 
stampede. 
 
5.  (U)  "Area Boys" thugs and police were involved in 
many fracas.  A ConGen Lagos vehicle ferrying mail was 
temporarily blocked in the Anthony area of Lagos by a 
bus loaded with people carrying bottles.  A convoy of 
vehicles conveying NLC Mobilization Committee members 
was attacked in Lagos.  No one was injured, but NLC 
contacts predict similar attacks by pro-government 
elements as the strike progresses.  Local newspapers 
reported that the police arrested nine labor leaders in 
Awka, Anambra State, October 11 for allegedly 
"breaching public peace" while "monitoring compliance" 
with the strike, and clashed with Ibadan Polytechnic 
students protesting off campus. 
 
6.  (U) Jerry Agbeigbe, a prominent labor activist and 
former president of the National Association of Pilots 
and Engineering, was shot dead early this morning by 
unidentified assailants.  His corpse reportedly was 
left at the Alapere Police Station in Lagos. Agbeigbe 
had been on the forefront of the agitation for the 
payment of salary and pension arrears for Nigerian 
Airways employees. It is unknown whether the killing 
was related to the Nigerian Airways situation, the 
strike action, or neither event. 
 
7. (U) In other places: 
 
LAGOS:  Public offices and many businesses were closed 
again today.  Reports from some areas of the city 
indicated that about 20 percent of vendors were back at 
the markets.  Trading continued on the floor of the 
Nigerian Stock Exchange, though volume was expected to 
be lower than normal again today.  The Lagos office of 
the Central Bank was operating normally.  Commercial 
banks in some areas opened, though most remained 
largely closed to customers out of fear of harassment 
from "area boys."  More than 1000 protesters blocked a 
major road in the Badagry area this morning.  Lagos 
airport was open, with no indication that air traffic 
control was joining the strike, but domestic flights 
were interrupted in many places -- including a sixty 
percent reduction in flights between Abuja and Lagos. 
Some manufacturers closed factories, fearing people who 
the NLC sent to ensure compliance with the strike. 
 
KANO:  The northern commercial center saw more strike 
activity October 12 than October 11, and clashes with 
security forces have been reported. 
 
ONITSHA:  NLC officers are reportedly moving around to 
ensure compliance with the strike in this trading 
center for the Southeast.  Some markets and banks that 
opened earlier in the day have been forced to close. 
The general hospital was also forced to shut down. Some 
government offices that opened in the morning were 
later closed, though workers remained in their offices. 
Private businesses and public transport operated 
without disturbance. 
 
ENUGU:  Public offices and schools remain closed. 
Commuters are moving undisturbed. Major markets are 
open.  The police reportedly arrested labor (and 
possibly political) leaders while people were off the 
streets as a result of the strike. 
 
IBADAN:  Private schools were open and there was more 
pedestrian and vehicular movement than on October 11. 
Banks and government offices remained shut, however, 
and there were reports of clashes between police and 
protesters. 
 
PORT HARCOURT:  Some commercial facilities were 
open, and a small amount of commercial traffic was 
moving.  All banks were closed.  Motorists were 
reportedly displaying green leaves as a sign of 
solidarity with the strike.  International flights were 
arriving as usual. 
 
WARRI:  Banks, schools, public hospitals, and major 
government offices were closed.  Private schools 
remained open.  NEPA offices were closed, but 
technicians were at work.  Delta Broadcasting Service 
was off the air.  The airport was closed. 
 
OIL INDUSTRY 
 
8.  (SBU) ChevronTexaco and ExxonMobil both reported 
continued office operations with skeletal staffs.  Oil 
and gas activities in the field, however, have not been 
affected.  Oil unions continued to honor the strike, 
except for essential staff.  Generally, firms in the 
oil sector said they do not expect production to be 
affected by the strike if it is confined to this week, 
as planned.  However, if the situation goes into an 
indefinite strike, production issues may arise. 
 
NLC STRIKE LEADERS GENERALLY SATISFIED 
 
9.  (SBU)  Expressing displeasure over the level of 
compliance in Abuja, the NLC leadership nevertheless 
deems the strike "successful and very much on course." 
A top official at the NLC Secretariat said the strike 
would continue in spite of "several attempts by the 
government to foil the resolve of the Nigerian people." 
He said reports from many parts of Nigeria indicate 
that the public, especially workers and students have 
"positively responded to our call."  NLC leaders claim 
even the Nigeria Police have cooperated, "tacitly 
expressing solidarity with the measures taken by the 
NLC and avoided enforcing government orders." 
 
10.  (U) NLC officials were less happy about the recent 
inauguration of a 33-man committee by President 
Obasanjo to cushion the effect of the recent price 
hike, describing it as "diversionary and insulting to 
Nigerians."  The Committee was inaugurated yesterday at 
the Presidential Villa.   According to President 
Obasanjo, the Committee would "collate, harmonize and 
coordinate measures that will be agreed to bring about 
a short term relief and medium term positive impact on 
the effect of high oil prices."  Although NLC head 
Adams Oshiomhole and four other labor leaders were 
included in the Committee, strike leader Ukpa said the 
NLC had "embarked on the strike to force the government 
to revert to old fuel prices, not to discuss palliative 
measures that are full of deceit." 
ROBERTS