June 19, 2007
As the nationwide strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) commenced this morning, commercial and social activities have been paralysed in major cities of the country, including Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
In Lagos, all government offices were deserted while the roads were empty as commercial vehicles kept off the roads.
Most of the city’s motor parks were virtually empty as the biting fuel scarcity combined to keep commercial vehicles off the roads.
In most of the markets visited this morning, there were few traders and buyers and little transactions. In central Lagos, there were no commercial activities as traders stayed at home in compliance with the NLC directive.
Attempt by labour leaders and activists of the civil society to block some major roads in the state, like Ikorodu road and the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, were thwarted by policemen who chased them away.
The police also cleared the bonfires and other object used by the activists to block roads. Police patrol vehicles with sirens blaring were also sighted in some parts of the metropolis to keep demonstrators at bay.
At Ojodu Berger, commuter bus drivers who defied the strike were beaten and their vehicles damaged.
Meanwhile, the police cordoned off the NLC secretariat in Yaba.
NLC’s Head of Information, Mr. Owei Lakemfa and others have also embarked on road protest to ensure compliance with the strike.
In Abuja, the nation’s capital, the strike was total as civil servants complied with the NLC directive to stay away from work.
A visit to the Federal Secretariat revealed empty offices. The few senior staff found in some of the officers dozed away on their seats as there was nobody to assist them.
Some major roads in the city were also barricaded by officials of NLC who were later chased away by the police.
Another feature of the city this morning were long queues of motorists and commuter buses at some petrol stations following the scarcity of fuel.
Independent Petroleum Marketers on Monday called off its strike and appealed to its members to start lifting fuel.
Investigations at the capital city also showed that major motor parks were deserted while the roads were free.
And in Port Harcourt, protesting labour officials barricaded some major roads with disused tyres. There were barricades at Rumu Okoro junction and Garrison area.
Some women wearing black and holding green leaves were also sighted marching to the Rivers State Government House to protest the hike in the prices of petroleum products.
Most filling stations in the city were also deserted while motor parks and markets remained shut.
Pupils who went to school were turned back by their teachers who asked them to stay at home until the strike is called off.
Our correspondents across the country also said there was compliance with the strike action in the states.
In Lagos, all government offices were deserted while the roads were empty as commercial vehicles kept off the roads.
Most of the city’s motor parks were virtually empty as the biting fuel scarcity combined to keep commercial vehicles off the roads.
In most of the markets visited this morning, there were few traders and buyers and little transactions. In central Lagos, there were no commercial activities as traders stayed at home in compliance with the NLC directive.
Attempt by labour leaders and activists of the civil society to block some major roads in the state, like Ikorodu road and the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, were thwarted by policemen who chased them away.
The police also cleared the bonfires and other object used by the activists to block roads. Police patrol vehicles with sirens blaring were also sighted in some parts of the metropolis to keep demonstrators at bay.
At Ojodu Berger, commuter bus drivers who defied the strike were beaten and their vehicles damaged.
Meanwhile, the police cordoned off the NLC secretariat in Yaba.
NLC’s Head of Information, Mr. Owei Lakemfa and others have also embarked on road protest to ensure compliance with the strike.
In Abuja, the nation’s capital, the strike was total as civil servants complied with the NLC directive to stay away from work.
A visit to the Federal Secretariat revealed empty offices. The few senior staff found in some of the officers dozed away on their seats as there was nobody to assist them.
Some major roads in the city were also barricaded by officials of NLC who were later chased away by the police.
Another feature of the city this morning were long queues of motorists and commuter buses at some petrol stations following the scarcity of fuel.
Independent Petroleum Marketers on Monday called off its strike and appealed to its members to start lifting fuel.
Investigations at the capital city also showed that major motor parks were deserted while the roads were free.
And in Port Harcourt, protesting labour officials barricaded some major roads with disused tyres. There were barricades at Rumu Okoro junction and Garrison area.
Some women wearing black and holding green leaves were also sighted marching to the Rivers State Government House to protest the hike in the prices of petroleum products.
Most filling stations in the city were also deserted while motor parks and markets remained shut.
Pupils who went to school were turned back by their teachers who asked them to stay at home until the strike is called off.
Our correspondents across the country also said there was compliance with the strike action in the states.
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