Nigerians struck and protested against the federal government's cancellation of fuel subsidies. Several people were killed by police in the demonstrations., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Nigeria dogged by violent fuel subsidy chaos
KANO, NIGERIA Jan 10 2012 06:29
Six people were killed on Monday when Nigerian police and protesters clashed as tens of thousands demonstrated nationwide over fuel price hikes and a general strike shut down the country.
The launch of what unions called an indefinite strike came at a crucial moment for Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer, already hit by spiralling violence blamed on Islamist sect Boko Haram.
Tensions ran particularly high in Kano, the largest city in Nigeria's north, when thousands converged on the state governor's office, prompting police to push them back as they fired tear gas and shot into the air.
Also in Kano, two vans were set ablaze and protesters tried to torch the home of central bank chief Lamido Sanusi, but police stopped them.
The office of the secretary of the state government -- its highest administrative officer -- was also set ablaze, causing serious damage.
A Red Cross official said in the afternoon that 30 injured had been counted in Kano, including 18 with gunshot wounds. A hospital source said later that two of those shot had died.
The head of Nigeria's human rights commission, Chidi Odinkalu, said a nine-year-old had also been reported trampled to death.
The government imposed a night time curfew on the city and it was unclear whether authorities would disperse thousands of protesters who remained at the city's main square.
Curfew
A curfew was also slapped on the capital of northern Zamfara after some protesters smashed the windows of a church.
In the southern city of Benin, protesters attacked a mosque and wounded several people, leading police to fire tear gas, police and witnesses said.
A witness said he saw police take away a man with a machete cut on his head.
Protests appeared mainly peaceful in Lagos though three people were shot dead there, said Odinkalu, bringing the nationwide toll to six.
In one of the killings in Lagos, a police officer was accused of shooting a victim. Police confirmed the death and said the officer was arrested.
Bonfires made of tyres burned along main roads as protesters marched past, with an estimated 10 000 or more converging at a designated location for a rally.
Speakers denouncing the fuel price hike in Lagos included Femi Kuti, son of late musical icon and harsh government critic Fela Kuti, while prominent rights activists also took part.
Protest leaders in Lagos were keen to avoid provoking police after authorities were accused of using excessive force against demonstrators last week and shooting one person.
'Bad Luck Jonathan'
While the main group of protesters was largely peaceful, youths on the margins of the march set bonfires and threw bottles or stones. Some yelled "Bad Luck Jonathan" in reference to President Goodluck Jonathan.
"This is a peaceful demonstration," said Ishola Adebayo, a teacher who took part in the Lagos march. "They cannot break our resolve to compel government to drop this anti-people policy."
The strike was widely observed, particularly in Lagos, where the usually chaotic streets were empty apart from protesters, with shops, petrol stations and other businesses shut for the day.
Several thousand protesters also attended a rally in the capital Abuja despite massive security.
Officials said oil output was not affected in a country that produces around 2.4-million barrels per day.
Nigeria's main unions on Monday vowed to push ahead and condemned the shootings, alleging "the federal government unleashed its security machinery against the people".
The strike came after the government's deeply controversial move to end fuel subsidies on January 1, which caused petrol prices to more than double in a country where most of the 160-million population lives on less than $2 a day.
Transport costs have followed suit, sharply increasing the price of commuting and further effects were feared -- especially on the cost of food.
Spiralling violence
Security forces are also already under heavy pressure over spiralling violence blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram.
Recent deadly attacks on Christians have sparked fears of a wider religious conflict in a country whose population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south.
On December 31, Jonathan declared a state of emergency in hard-hit areas but the violence has only continued and spread to other locations.
Much of the country has been united in anger against the abandoning of fuel subsidies despite a strong push from Jonathan and his respected economic team to make their case for the move.
Nigerians view the subsidies as their only benefit from the nation's oil wealth and lack any real trust in government after years of deeply rooted corruption.
The government has given no sign of backing down.
Economists say removing fuel subsidies is vital for the country to improve its woefully inadequate infrastructure and ease pressure on its foreign reserves.
The government says it spent more than $8-billion on subsidies in 2011. -- AFP
Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://mg.co.za/article/2012-01-10-nigeria-dogged-by-violent-fuel-subsidy-chaos
Protests peaceful in C’River, Imo, Oyo, Osun, flops in Enugu, aborted in Bayelsa .
Tuesday, 10 January 2012 00:00
By Our Reporters News
Nigerian Guardian
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THE strike embarked upon yesterday by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over fuel subsidy removal was peaceful in Cross River, Imo State while it was aborted in Bayelsa State.
Early in the morning, business activities went on as usual in Calabar as the markets opened while commercial drivers plied the roads.
Also, petrol stations, government offices were open, while banks however did not do business with their customers.
But later in the day the banks shut their gates while civil servants were at work were chased up from their officesby NLC’s officials. The State's NLC chairman Mr. Njom Iyambe explained that some government offices opened because they had no formal directive from them to stay at home, but after pasting bulletins on their premises telling them to stay home, they started complying.
For the taxi drivers and markets unions which still seemed adamant, he said adequate measures would be taken to ensure they complied.
Meanwhile, security operatives in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, at 7:30 am condoned off the Opolo Secondary School . the venue slated for the kick off of the planned protest.
In Owerri businesses activities went on at Ekeukwu, and Relief Market located near Ikenegbu /Egbu extension in the metropolis.
Only banks and offices were under lock and key.
However, NLC officials and some workers matched through the major streets in Owerri in the morning accompanied by police men and other security officials along the busy Douglas, Okigwe, Wethdral streets , chanting anti-government songs.
Commercial activities were paralysed in Osogbo, the Osun State capital by the protest which was also held in other major towns. It was generally peaceful until when a former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola allegedly ran into some protesters. Two persons sustained severe injuries in the process.
Public workers in the state observed the strike while banks, offices, traders and markets did not open to customers.
The protesters who carried placards bearing various inscriptions, held the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 11, Mr. Johnson Uzuegbunam hostage for about 30 minutes as he was on his way to office.
The protest was led by the NLC, TUC, National Conscience Party (NCP), Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Committee for Democracy and Right of the People (CDRP), Justice Now Foundation (JNF), State Coalition Against Violation (OSCARV), Peoples Welfare League (PWL), and students’ union leaders among others.
Protests also rocked Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. .
The old, young, students, artisans, civil and human rights activists as well as labour leaders, armed with placards, marched round the ancient city chanting anti-government songs and demanded the immediate reversal of petroleum pump price to N65.
Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were fully mobilised as they withdrew their vehicles from the roads, as well as commercial motorcyclists.
Offices and markets were deserted while banks were shut to customers.
However, the strike took off rather on an abysmal note in Enugu yesterday as residents went about their normal duties. Government offices were shut as civil servants stayed away from duty. All other activities in the state were in full gear.
The banks which locked their entrances apparently for fear of being molested, offered services to their customers through the back door.
Markets, petrol stations and other businesses were in full operation while motorists plied the state unmolested.
Private schools in the state which reopened for academic activities yesterday operated without hassles, but those of public schools turned their students back.
People power! .
Tuesday, 10 January 2012 00:00
By Our Reporters
Nigerian Guardian
Paralysis as Nigerians protest subsidy removal
Police kill one, injure four protesters
Mark, Labour in talks, govt seeks dialogue
Amaechi meets marketers, seeks price cut
Presidency officials stranded at airport
Braithwaite urges Nigerians to remain steadfast
IN compliance with the directive of organised Labour and its allies, Nigerians yesterday took to the streets to protest removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, which has led to astronomical increase in the price of petrol.
During the action which paralysed socio-economic and educational activities across the country, Labour leaders and members of civil society organisations spoke vociferously against the removal of the subsidy urging the government to reverse it and work out other strategies to take the country out of the woods.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said dialogue remains the best option to resolve the deadlock between it and the labour unions over the implementation of deregulation policy in the downstream oil sector.
It therefore appealed to Labour and its affiliate unions to call off the strike and support governments’ effort to move the country forward.
Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku who stated this while reacting to the protest reiterated government’s commitment to civil liberty and protection of human rights of all Nigerians.
He said security agencies have been directed to enforce the fundamental human rights of all.
The Minister assured that the Federal Government would continue to implement policies that will expand the economy in order to improve the social well-being of Nigerians and create more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.
According to him, Nigerians would soon begin to feel the impact of the deregulation policy. Maku urged Nigerians to support government in its determination to return Nigeria to the path of sustainable development and economic growth.
On his part, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi met with independent petroleum marketers in Rivers State yesterday to discuss ways of reducing fuel price and getting the products easily and readily available to end users.
At the meeting were members of the state branch of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and officials of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) area office/depot.
According to Amaechi’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, “also as part of the governor’s effort to see how he can bring down the price of petrol in the state below the N141 benchmark, he will be meeting with other groups in the sector.”
“Governor Amaechi will be meeting with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), major oil marketers, oil farm tank and depot owners, between today and tomorrow and to also ensure that the cost of public transportation does not escalate too much.”
In Ondo State, it was total paralysis of social and economic activities in Akure the capital and other major cities. All the major streets in Akure were completely deserted as residents obeyed the stay-at-home order while Labour leaders, rights activists and irate youths who had earlier gathered at the State Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at Alagbaka took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration.
In Kaduna, an unprecedented number of youths, market women, labour and human rights activists came out to the streets to protest. The action which was led by the officials of the NLC, Kaduna branch, was later hijacked by thousands of hoodlums who carried fresh leaves and placards, chanting anti-government songs, just as most residents in the metropolis stayed indoors.
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Abdulkadir Musa Balarabe, human rights activist, Festus Okoye as well as the President, Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria Shehu Sani led the protest to major public places in the city as early as 8.00 a.m.
All public and private institutions in Ekiti State were under lock in total compliance with the directive for strike. The peaceful protest in the state was led by the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Felix Femi Ajakaye, who said he had to identify with the people to protest what he called insensitivity of President Goodluck Jonathan in handling the welfare of Nigerians.
The Bishop, who dressed in his cassock, joined other protesters from Ajilosun Area of Ado Ekiti, marched through some major streets in the state capital and stopped at Fajuyi Park where the protesters were addressed.
Attempts by security operatives to forcefully open the gate of the Rivers State secretariat in Port Harcourt were resisted by the workers enforcing the strike. Economic and social activities were grounded in Port Harcourt as hundreds of residents took to the streets. Primary and secondary schools that were billed to reopen after the Christmas and New Year holidays could not do so. Officials of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NLC stormed the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwu, to prevent take-off and landing of aircraft.
In Benue State, all banks, shops, markets and business centres as well as hospitals were shut down. The State Radio as well as FRCN stations that started offering skeletal services at dawn were later shut down by officials of the NLC.
In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the protest was total. All shops, markets, business centres and mechanic workshops were completely shut as the streets were taken over by protesters.
But for the timely intervention of armed policemen and other security agents, the NNPC filling station along the Western Bye-pass in Minna, Niger State capital would have been set ablaze by protesters.
Also all billboards with President Goodluck Jonathan’s pictures in Minna and its environs were pulled down and set ablaze by protesters.
Trouble started at the NNPC station when the protesters discovered that the attendants were selling fuel to motorists and immediately ordered them to close business, but the station’s manager resisted as the attendants continue the sales.
Reacting to the nationwide protest, the chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, yesterday in Minna said the government had no choice than to listen to the voice of the people over the subsidy removal.
Speaking while receiving members of the NBA who were in the Government House to present their position on the fuel subsidy removal, the Niger State helmsman said what influenced the decision of the 36 governors to support the subsidy’s removal was to stop illegal deductions being made in the name of subsidy by the Federation Allocation Committee.
The protest in Edo State almost turned violent. Some persons sustained various degrees of injuries while at least four persons were rushed to the Central Hospital, Benin City where doctors were seen attending to the victims. Suspected hoodlums infiltrated the ranks of the organisers and ransacked some business premises in Erie along Sakponba and Mission roads.
They also ransacked parts of Third Junction and set bonfires in major junctions across the state capital. But law enforcement agencies drawn from the Army, Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, were quickly mobilised to the hot spots.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole expressed solidarity with the labour unions and the civil society groups, saying they have a right to stage peaceful protest against any policy they feel aggrieved about. Speaking during the procession to the Government House, Benin City yesterday by the NLC Chairman, Emmanuel Ademokun and TUC Chairman, Joe Aligbe, the governor who said government feels the pains of the people as a result of the subsidy removal, assured that the issues would eventually be resolved through dialogue.
Over 2,000 non-indigenes were yesterday evacuated from their various places of residence to the State Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Police and the 4th Mechanised Brigade of the Nigerian Army for fear of attacks by suspected hoodlums who seemed to have hijacked the peaceful protest in the morning. Some vehicles as at the time of filing this report were being mobilised to transport these victims to their zones. The Guardian also gathered yesterday that three persons were reportedly shot dead while attempting to loot shopping complexes and business centres.
Workers in Delta State and members of the civil society organisations who started the rallies round the state capital, Asaba at about 7.30 a.m. were joined by market women, motorcycle riders and students. Some traders who had opened shops hurriedly locked up while corporate institutions such as banks and private business outfits as well as public institutions quickly joined in closing their gates, turning back customers.
Some public and private workers in Abia State also protested while some petrol stations and private shops opened for business.
Unlike when the protest first started in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday’s action over the same issue was peaceful. It was indeed a total boycott of all the socio-political and economic activities in Ilorin.
Despite the protests in Akwa Ibom State, normal business activities were still going on in the state capital.
Besides banks and government offices that were closed, markets, supermarkets and filling stations as well as commuters were seen going on with their normal activities.
Ibom Plaza, which was re-named “Freedom Square” by the protesters, was filled to capacity with workers from both the public and private sectors who attended the rally organised by a coalition of Labour and civil society groups to protest the increase in the price of petrol.
Curfew in Kano over deaths
Tuesday, 10 January 2012 00:00 Editor
Nigerian Guardian
NIGERIAN officials announced a nighttime curfew for the northern city of Kano on Monday after clashes between police and protesters seeking to storm the governor’s office left two people dead.
“Following the sad incidents in the city today where some hoodlums hijacked a peaceful protest by labour unions, the state government hereby imposes a 14-hour curfew,” Kano state information commissioner Faruk Jubril told journalists.
“Starting from tonight, people are hereby ordered to remain indoors between 6:00 pm and 8:00 am until further notice. This is to ensure maintenance of law and order.”
The police commissioner for Kano state, where Kano city is the capital, said the authorities were forced to respond to the violence.
He confirmed one person killed, seven injured and 23 arrested. A hospital source said earlier that two people died from gunshot wounds in Kano.
Protests were held as part of a nationwide strike that kicked off on Monday over soaring petrol prices in Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer.
“The protest organised by the labour unions was going on peacefully and the protesters had the permission of police to march from the labour secretariat to the race course for their rally,” Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris said.
“Suddenly from nowhere a group of criminals besieged the government house and tried to force themselves in. They overpowered the policemen on duty, who had to seek reinforcements from soldiers to disperse the rampaging crowd.”
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