Jan 3 (GIN) - Nigeria is roiling with protest following the decision by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to increase hardship by removing an oil subsidy that has jacked up prices up to three times their normal rate in some areas of the country.
Jan 3 (GIN) - Nigeria is roiling with protest following the decision by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to increase hardship by removing an oil subsidy that has jacked up prices up to three times their normal rate in some areas of the country.
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The action raises doubts about the political survival of Pres. Jonathan who stands accused of "a condemnable and dictatorial policy" by labor leaders, and "utter disregard for the constitution" by members of the opposition.
“The public holiday has become nightmarish because there are long queues of fear. There is a lot of annoyance in the mind of people. People can’t move around happily, you know. People are annoyed. People are angry,” said Iny Ememobong, a spokesperson for the National Association of Nigerian Students.
With the subsidy, prices were an average of 65 Naira, or 40 cents per liter, now they have increased to as much as 250 Naira in some places.
“Labor is going on protest, students are going on protest, market women - everybody’s going because everybody is affected by what’s happening. It’s not just about students. It’s not just about labor. It’s about everybody. All of Nigeria except the very rich are going on protest. And like John F. Kennedy said, if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich,” Ememobong adds.
Despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria imports most of its refined petrol while exporting its crude resources – a fact that speaks to capacity in Nigeria, says Ememobong.
“It’s unfortunate that we have many refineries in Nigeria that are not even working at optimal capacity. Why can’t they work? Why do we need to export the crude oil and re-import them and pay so much on them?”
The Nigerian government says the $7.5 billion used on fuel subsidies is needed for infrastructure projects and social programs throughout the country. But citizens say corruption has swallowed the nation’s assets with government officials paying themselves outsized salaries and other wasteful measures. w/pix of sit-down in Lagos
FOLLOW THE ACTION MINUTE-BY-MINUTE ON WWW.SAHARAREPORTERS.COM - "OCCUPY NIGERIA"
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