As Nigerians across the nation protest over the removal of fuel subsidy, we bring you reports from various states of the federation.
Enugu
By Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, Enugu State chapter yesterday failed to mobilize the organised labour in the state to protest the removal just as the state government prohibited public precessions, meetings and assemblies in the state till further notice.
Governor Chime had in the prohibition order dated January 8 said “I, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, Governor of Enugu State of Nigeria; BEING OF THE OPINION that the holding of any public assemblies, meetings or public procession in any part of Enugu State of Nigeria would lead to the breakdown of law and order; AND THAT it is therefore expedient to prohibit the holding of any public assemblies, meetings or public procession;
“ACCORDINGLY, in the exercises of the powers conferred on me by law and all other powers enabling me in that behalf; HEREBY ISSUE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION: The holding of any public assemblies, meetings or public procession in Enugu State of Nigeria is hereby prohibited until further notice”.
But, all state and federal offices, banks, filling state stations and parastatals were shut down because of the strike.
Our investigations revealed that workers from all the unions in the state were ready for the protest ordered by the national leadership of Organized labour but the leaders of NLC in the state refused to lead them.
Kano
By Amina Yau
One of the protesters in Kano was shot by the police. Youths brought down the fence of the government house and policemen fired at them, leaving about 30 or more injured. A van belonging to the police was burnt and some policemen injured too. A 6pm to 8am curfew has been imposed in at the moment but there’s no guarantee yet that the protesters will abide by it.
Ikorodu
By Muideen Ishola
The protest at Ikorodu area beside Jumafak bus stop was peaceful but the police began to shot and use tear gas when protesters attempted to assault motorists and commercial motorcycle riders. Fortunately, no any protester was injured or killed.
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Oshodi, Lagos
Ayomide Samuel Ayeni
About 15 policemen from Makinde Police Station, Oshodi, joined protesters in Oshodi. They were seen singing and dancing with over 100 members of the Civil Coalition in the area.
Jigawa
By Sani Alhassan
The protest was carried out peacefully at Malam-Madori local government area of Jigawa State.
Ibadan
By Bamidele Korede
The protest in Ibadan was possible and without problems.
Gombe
By Nas Nasir
Nigerians took to the streets in Gombe and protested peacefully.
Zamfara
By Hassan Salihu Moriki
The protest in Gusau turned violent as hoodlums went on rampage.
Niger
Bala Adamu
In Minna all is calm as protesters have taken a break. The strike is very much on and only a few people are on the streets.
Ondo
?By David Akinadewo, Akure
Commercial activities were yesterday grounded in Ondo State as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state in conjunction with civil liberty organizations engaged in mass rallies.
Residents, both in public and private sectors complied with the directive of the national body of the labour unions to shun economic and social activities in protest against the hike in fuel prices.
Markets, shops, government offices, filling stations and banks were all locked up as both the young and elderly, participated in the peaceful procession. Some youths also barricaded the adjoining streets to ensure strict compliance and turned the roads to temporary football pitch.
The protesters, comprising of the leadership of the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Artisans, market men and women, drivers and unemployed youths, converged at the NLC Secretariat, Alagbaka, Akure, at about 7.30am and stormed the town with placards bearing inscriptions condemning the subsidy policy of the govenment and chanting anti-subsidy removal songs.
Lagos
By Chima Akwaya
Lagos witnessed the heaviest pull of the fuel subsidy protests on Monday as demonstrations began in the morning. International and local airports were closed to traffic. Mobile policemen were stationed at the international airport roads. Labour leaders at the local airport did a protest march in the morning before joining their counterparts on Ikorodu Road, Lagos.
Ikorodu Road was flowing with thousands of protesters led by the NLC, TUC, Association of Local Govt Employees, students, traders, etc.
Dr. Tunji Braithwaite addressed the protesters at Maryland Roundabout above the Independence Tunnel, calling for a revolution and removal of corrupt people in power.
Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Bank-Anthony Way, and Third Mainland Bridge were deserted. At Obalende truck-loads of Mobile policemen were seen.
There were no commercial buses in sight, except tricycles and motorcycles. All the way from Ikotun to Cele Express, the roads and streets were desertd, except for a pocket of young men who were gathered at a newsstand, discussing soccer.
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Kaduna
By Midat Joseph
The protest which started peacefully turned violent when some hoodlums who hijacked the protest started pulling down all PDP bill boards including those of Jonathan/Sambo and Governor Yakowa.
Two persons were confirmed injured following a clash between the security operatives and thousands of protesters who were vehemently bent on entering the government House.
The security agencies, who resisted the attempts by the protesting youth to enter the government House, used tear gas to disperse the crowd. They also shot into the air.
?Ogun State
By Abiodun Taiwo
Commercial and vehicular activities were grounded in Abeokuta. The State Secretariat was also shut and other government agencies and offices were deserted.
The popular Lafenwa, Kuto, Omida and Sapon markets were a ghost of themselves, while banks, schools and fuel stations? remained under lock and key.
Also, gates of state and federal hospitals were shut, with few doctors and nurses left to attend to emergency cases. Fuel stations in the metropolis were deserted.
Meanwhile, protesters in their thousands had gathered at the state headquarters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) at Oke-Ilewo by 8.00 where Comrade Akeem Ambali, the state NLC Chairman addressed them.
The protesters thereafter embarked on a peaceful procession round the major streets of the state capital as they chanted solidarity songs and carrying placards which disparaged the presidency.
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