US embassy cable - 04LAGOS2096

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 002096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, PGOV, EPET, KDEM, ECON, NI 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA NATIONWIDE STRIKE SITREP #3: OCTOBER 13 
 
REF: A. LAGOS 2072 
     B. ABUJA 1727 
 
This is a joint report from Embassy Abuja and Consulate Lagos. 
 
1.  (U) Summary: The nationwide strike in Nigeria continues 
to be well-observed throughout most of Nigeria. Of major 
cities, Abuja apparently has been least affected by the 
strike. Despite on-going negotiations and intervening court 
cases, the strike will likely continue tomorrow on what 
should be the final day of this initial phase of the strike. 
However, labor leaders threatened to prolong the initial 
stay-at-home period because of deaths/casualties/arrests of 
strike participants. Oil production remains unaffected. There 
have been no reported security incidents involving American 
citizens.  End Summary. 
 
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Political Developments 
---------------------- 
 
2. (U) A National Labor Congress (NLC) contact told us the 
GON had filed suit with an Abuja High Court seeking permanent 
injunction barring the NLC from continuing the strike. The 
contact said the suit was designed to force the NLC to 
suspend the strike until the court could hear the case, which 
could take months. If the court ruled against the NLC, NLC 
leaders would be forced to choose between calling off the 
strike or risking court sanctions, including possible arrest. 
 
3. However, an official at the Federal Ministry of Labor and 
Productivity told Embassy Abuja she did not think the GON is 
seeking an injunction against the NLC. Rather, she believed, 
the hearing today was on an appeal filed by the GON against 
the injunction the NLC won earlier preventing the GON from 
raising fuel prices. Mission was unable to confirm either 
report or to ascertain the outcome of the court proceedings. 
(COMMENT: Both sides are going to court to try to gain legal 
justification for their positions. What happens in the court, 
however, may be insignificant because at bottom, this is a 
test of competing political wills and agendas. End comment.) 
 
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Reports from around the Country 
------------------------------- 
 
3.  (U) LAGOS: An NLC monitoring team reportedly was attacked 
October 12 by a gang at Ojuelegba round-about. Another NLC 
team clashed with police yesterday at Iyana-Ipaja. No serious 
injuries were reported. Today, "area boys" are burning tires, 
blocking traffic, and harassing motorists in the Aja area. 
International flights are operating normally, but domestic 
flights have been scaled back due to low numbers of 
passengers. Most filling stations remain closed today. Banks 
still report low staff turn-out; skeletal services are being 
rendered at head offices and most branches are closed. 
Contacts report that operations are significantly reduced at 
Lagos and outlying ports. Military and police officers were 
observed at the Lagos port facilities. 
 
4.  (U) Circumstances regarding the October 12 death of 
aviation union activist Jerry Agbeyegbe remain cloudy (ref 
b). Police initially claimed he died in a car accident; most 
other reports indicate he was shot in his car sometime during 
the early morning. The National Union of Air Transport 
Employees (NUATE) and other aviation employee associations 
are expected to issue statements today calling for a judicial 
inquiry into the alleged killing. An autopsy is being 
conducted. 
 
5.  (U) AWKA: Newspapers reported that the nine labor leaders 
arrested on Monday were released on bail Tuesday, following a 
protest march and pleas for their release by other labor 
leaders. 
 
6. (U) PORT HARCOURT: There was significant violence on 
October 12 around Eleme Junction, following the shooting 
death of an adult male (ref b). Fighting was also reported 
around the Shell residential area and the airport.  The city 
is calmer today. The strike continues, but more vehicles are 
on the road and some shops and markets are open. Oil service 
company offices remain closed, but production operations 
remain unaffected. 
 
7.  (U) WARRI: The strike continues in Warri. Police patrol 
the streets. The commercial wing of the airport is closed. 
Few filling stations are attending customers. 
 
8.  (U) ONITSHA: There is more movement of people and traffic 
today. The main market and some government offices opened. 
National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was reportedly 
operating and collecting payments from customers. Some banks 
also opened. Most schools remain closed. 
9.  (U) IBADAN: Like yesterday, people are moving freely and 
schools are open. Most government offices remain closed. 
 
10.  (U) ENUGU: Public offices and schools remain closed. 
Commercial activities continue unaffected. 
 
11.  (U) KADUNA: Offices and schools remain closed. 
BROWNE