Economic activites came to halt in most states of the federation yesterday, as a result of a strike called by Labour in protest against the Federal Government’s withdrawal of the subsidy on petrol.
Offices, markets and banks were shut, as many workers stayed away from their duty posts, in response to Labour’s call. Labour had called for an indefinite strike, but industry watchers say that experience over the years has shown that such strikes usually fizzle out after a few days, because the bulk of Nigerians involved, incuding traders, artisans and transporters, sustain themselves on their daily earnings, which soon run out, forcing them back to work.
While workers in some sections of the country heeded the call, it was business as usual in other parts.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that in the Federal Capital Territory (FTC) Abuja, schools, offices, banks and popular shopping centres were shut, while security operatives patrolled the streets.
Most fuel stations were also shut, but some commercial drivers and commuters in the FCT were seen going about their normal businesses.
Traffic was sparse, with the usual crowds absent from the major bus stops.
A trip from Lugbe, a suburb of the FCT, to the city centre, which would normally take one and a half hours, took only 19 minutes on Monday.
Juwon Olupeka, an Abuja resident who works with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), told NAN that he was taking his time to study the situation before taking a decision as to whether or not to go to work.
NAN also reports that most markets were closed, while schools in the city postponed their resumption date to January 16.
In Lagos, thousands of Nigerians joined the protest with a procession from the NLC secretariat in Yaba, moving through Ikorodu Road.
Labour leaders and rights activists led the procession of protesters to Ojota, a Lagos suburb, where a huge protest took place.
One person was allegedly shot dead in Lagos by the police, while a 15 year old boy was likewise killed in Kano.
This was as Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, who spoke against the background of the strike, yesterday cautioned against the destruction of public property. Fashola said it was a trying time for the country, and that it required the sacrifice of all Nigerians to overcome.
It was not clear as at press time, what informed the killing of the protester in Lagos, whose name was given as Ademola Aderinola, but eyewitnesses said policemen at Yaya Abatan junction, near Ogba, Lagos had been dragging the deceased on the ground before eventually shooting him.
Samuel Jinadu, Lagos State Police public relations officer, confirmed the killing, when contacted on telephone. Jinadu said the policeman who pulled the trigger had been apprehended and handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for interrogation.
The strike however paralysed economic and commercial activities in Lagos, the nation’s former capital city, as private and public offices, businesses, markets, shops, fuel stations, schools and the Lagos State secretariat were shut.
The roads in Lagos were also devoid of the usual traffic, as commercial and private vehicles deserted them, except for a few.
Thousands of protesters converged at the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Park, Ojota, to further press home their demand for the Federal Government to revert petrol price to N65 per litre.
At the Ojota venue of the protest, several artistes, including Ras Kimono, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall and Femi Kuti, thrilled the protesters with their music. The venue went wild when Ras Kimono mounted the podium to play his popular song, “Under Pressure Nigeria”.
Addressing the people,Pastor Tunde Bakare, convener of the Save Nigeria Group, observed that the protest was beyond fuel subsidy.
Bakare, who was also the running mate of Muhamadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the April 2011 elections, said the protest was also a demand on government to fight corruption and bring to book those who ran down the nation’s refineries.
NAN correspondents report that in Calabar, transporters, especially in Calabar South, did not comply with the directive to stay at home, but operated and charged N100 per commuter, no matter the distance travelled.
Markets were opened, and other business activities went on as usual.
Bank workers reported for work, but shut the gates. At the Calabar Road branch of GTB Bank however, workers were seen preparing to attend to customers.
In Port Harcourt, the federal and state secretariats were closed. Banks did not open and major markets were shut, but people moved about freely, amidst tight security.
In Asaba, the strike recorded partial compliance, as only public offices were shut.
The main market in the capital city, Ogbeogonogo, was opened, with traders in their shops, just as commercial vehicles and motorcycles went about their normal business.
Also open, were commercial banks whose staff members were in their respective banking halls, apparently waiting for customers.
The Asaba branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) also opened, but had its gates guarded by heavily armed mobile policemen.
Entrances into all public offices, including the federal secretariat and the House of Assembly, were locked. Armed policemen were however stationed in strategic locations in the city, including the entrance of the Assembly complex.
The procession of protesters in Asaba was escorted and monitored by more than 30 armed policemen and plain-clothed security operatives.
Acting Secretary of NLC in the state, Fidel Emeni, threatened that organised private sector offices, especially banks, found open would be shut by labour and the workers dealt with.
In Enugu, there was relative calm, as residents defied the nationwide strike and went about their businesses.
Filling stations and shops on major streets opened for business as early as 8 a.m.
Long queues of vehicles were noticed at filling stations, as many of the stations remained closed to customers since last week, in the wake of the petrol subsidy withdrawal.
Public power supply remained largely stable in some parts of the city, such as the Independence Layout and Maryland, while it was erratic in places like Trans-Ekulu and Uwani.
NAN also observed that stern looking soldiers and riot policemen were stationed in most banks while Ogbete Market in the heart of the city did not open early.
At the Okpara Square, a major events venue in the coal city, soldiers and policemen cordoned off the major roads leading into and out of it, apparently to forestall any rally by the labour movement.
Governor Sullivan Chime had in a radio announcement on Sunday outlawed any form of public gathering or rally in the state.
In adjoining Abakaliki, all offices and schools were closed, but banks offered skeletal services.
Markets opened, but the usual hustle and bustle was absent.
In Yenagoa, offices were shut, but markets opened and taxis operated. Some banks opened, while others were shut.
In Katsina, government offices, banks and markets were shut. Traffic was sparse on Monday, while security operatives kept watch over government offices.