By Ayo Okulaja, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, Nigeria Photo: Ayo Okulaja
The city of Lagos in Nigeria that has witnessed widespread peaceful protests in the last one week woke up to an unexpected occupation by gun wielding military officers. Armoured tanks with truck loads of military officers were placed at strategic spots in Nigeria's commercial city, leaving a very uneasy and pensive calm across the city.
This is coming after an early national address by President Goodluck Jonathan where he announced a reduction in the price of fuel from N141 to N97. His address which was expected late last night after a marathon meeting with officials of the nation’s trade union led to the suspension of the week old protest by the labour union which however refused to call off the strike.
President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulahi Omar, asked protesters to "sit at home" but stated that "the strike still continues." The labour union is asking for a reversal of the fuel price to N65 ahead of renewed talks on the deregulation of the downstream sector which the federal government announced on the first of January after it removed the payment of subsidy on the importation of refined petroleum into the country.
However, pockets of defiant protesters still came onto the streets on the cold harmattan morning in Lagos to express their displeasure at the President’s announcement. The Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Square which has been the venue for thousands of peaceful protesters throughout last week, was completely cordoned off by the military who were joined by the police, civil defence cops and mobile policemen. Everyone moving towards the major road along the park were thoroughly searched and asked for their destination before they were allowed to proceed.
The park was empty as the security operatives mounted roadblocks around the square preventing people to move anywhere near the park. People that were trying to gather around were disperse as a mobile police officer in a van was seen telling a number of youths gathering together that "they should go back home." "The instruction is that you should sit at home. I do not want to see a gathering of more than 2/3 people he told the youth."
A standoff occurred at Ketu bus stop which is a few meters away from the Freedom square as a number of youth, gathered and started chanting at the military officers. The soldiers quickly cordoned them off, not letting anyone joined them but, standoff was quelled after a brief conversation between the soldiers and the youths, who still kept shouting but were not allowed to proceed to the protest ground. Some of the youth carried banners saying "it is N65 or nothing."
People are however gathering at other spots across the city and marching down from different spots to the square. A female protester was seen daring their soldiers as she shouted at them "shoot me, I am ready to die, we will all fight for the second independence of this country from corrupt and inept government" she shouted.
More complains
Nigeria has seen wide spread protest across the country against the removal of fuel subsidy since its announcement. The protest, led by the labour union and civil society groups was suspended on Friday, to enable people make some shopping and "stock up" ahead of another showdown this week, if the government does not ascend to the people’s demand. However, most petrol station were not opened during the weekend, making life even more difficult for people.
A motorcyclist told AfricaNews of the difficulty he had to get fuel to ply his trade, saying "the petrol stations all refused to open as they await the government's stand on the debate on the price of petroleum.”It’s been very difficult for me to work since all this crises started and I live on what I earn daily" he lamented. Same was the complaint of a truck pusher who helps people carry their loads in the popular Mile 12 Market in Lagos where raw food materials are purchased.
"A lot of foods are spoiling away and I can’t even make money to pay my children school fees when they are expected to resume next week due to this strike and sudden increase in price of petrol" he said.
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