Update: Labour Unions’ Fuel Hike Strike Shuts Businesses In Lagos, Abuja

… THEWILL Confirms One Protester Has Been Shot And Killed

SAN FRANCISCO, January 09, (THEWILL) – Labour unions went ahead with its scheduled nationwide strike with marches witnessed in some Nigerian cities including Lagos and Abuja.

Reports say union leaders picketed the Murtala Muhammad Airport in Ikeja, Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, blocking commercial airliners from scheduled operations.

The usually bustling streets of Lagos are quiet with banks, businesses, markets and shops closed. The streets were mainly deserted and police patrol vehicles were visible at strategic locations in the state.

Angry protests have greeted the removal of subsidy on petroleum products which has sent prices of most basic commodities to the roof. Before the subsidy removal, petrol sold for N65 per litre; it now sells at N141 per litre, and even for more in some areas.

THEWILL can confirm that a protester was shot and killed in the Ogba district of Lagos. The victim has been identified as Mr. Ademola Aderinola.

At the seat of government in Alausa, the Office of the State Governor was locked with policemen stationed in front of the office, the State Assembly Complex and the State secretariat, which houses the civil service.

THEWILL gathered that the protesters from Ikeja, Egbeda, Oregun, Ikorodu, Ikotun, Iyana-Ikpaja, Maryland, and Ojodu amongst other districts in Lagos hit the streets as early as 9am.

Apart from Ogba, where one person was killed by policemen, the march was peaceful statewide without any clashes between marchers and security operatives.

There were reports that hoodlums hijacked the march in Ikorodu and attacked some motorists who did not heed the call for the nationwide strike. About 5 vehicles were torched in the process. 

The House of Representatives on Sunday during an emergency session urged the federal government to reinstate the subsidy in the interest of the masses, while consultations on the highly contentious issue continue.

In reaction to the resolution passes by the House, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan reiterated that the policy was here to stay while he accused the House members of trying to score a cheap political point using the issue.

The federal government Sunday at the Eagle Square in Abuja, launched a mass transit scheme of 1600 buses, it said would help ease the hardship of commuters in the first phase of palliative programmes.

Many labour unions and civil society groups have said the indefinite strike would continue until the federal government reverses the policy.

In Benin City, Travellers on the ever busy Ugbowo Benin-Lagos Freeway were this morning stranded as youths barricaded the Road in protest over the removal of fuel Subsidy. The protesting Youths numbering over 3,000 took over the Road as early as 7am today, burning tires and carrying placards bearing various inscriptions.

Traffic was however brought to a halt as travellers were forced to alight and join the protesters while others abandoned their trips. The protesters vowed to continue protests until government restored the oil price of petrol.

The protest was however peaceful as fierce looking Mobile policemen were on ground to maintain law and order.