Fuel protests in Nigeria turn deadly

Protesters in Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital, threw stones and bottles at police on the first day of a nationwide strike over soaring fuel prices, as some yelled "Bad Luck Jonathan," in reference to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigeria's president has come under intense pressure after ordering the removal of a fuel subsidy, which most Nigerians see as the only benefit they derive from the country's oil wealth. The controversial move on January 1, caused petrol prices to soar more than double. In Nigeria, most of the population of 160 million live on less than $2 (1.5 euros) a day. The removal of the subsidy also angered labor unions, who, in turn, called for a nationwide strike.

Prominent Nigerians join protest

High-profile Nigerians, including Africa's most widely published writer, Chinua Achebe, joined the march. "We stand with the Nigerian people who are protesting the removal of oil subsidies which has placed an unbearable economic weight on them," Achebe said in a statement.

John Kolawale, secretary general for the Trade Union Congress who joined other demonstrators in Lagos, said all they wanted was for their voices to be heard. Similar protests were also reported in the capital Abuja and in Kano the largest city in the north.

A court ruling seeking to block the strike, and a televised address by President Jonathan seem to have had no effect on the angry protesters and the unions. Jonathan has promised some austerity cuts on travel and salaries in the executive branch, as well as new jobs.

"I feel the pain that you feel," an emotional Jonathan said on state-run Nigerian television on Saturday. He went on to stress that to save Nigeria the people had to make sacrifices. His government has refused to back down, despite lawmakers rebuking the president's decision.

Most protesters say they have sacrificed enough. Bola Adejobi said she was demonstrating not only against the fuel price hike, but the fact that after more than 50 years of oil production, Nigeria remained without electricity and clean drinking water. "It is high time we take Nigeria into our hands, Egyptians did it, so did Libyans," she said.

Joseph Adekolu, a 42-year-old accountant, lamented that Nigeria's leaders were concerned only about themselves. One protester in Lagos held his sign upside down. "Our life is already upside down, it shouldn't be like this," he told a reporter.

Strike beginning to bite

The strike threatens to paralyze Africa's largest oil producer, and bears resemblance to a nationwide strike in 2003 that saw the country almost shut down. Monday's strike has already brought the country's transport system to a standstill.

There are implications for other sectors as well. The president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Azubuike Okwor, warned on Monday that the price of medicine could increase by 50 percent, as a result of higher transport and production costs.

Economists argue that removing the subsidy is vital for improving the country's infrastructure, and to ease pressure on its foreign reserves.

Author: Chrispin Mwakideu (AP, AFP, dpa)
Editor: Mark Caldwell / rm