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Nigeria Cuts Fuel Prices After Strike, Protests |
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Tuesday, 17 January 2012The Nigerian government has reduced prices at the fuel pump, after a week-long nationwide strike and sometimes-violent protests.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has finally bowed under public pressure and announced that fuel will be reduced in price. In a televised address Monday, he said the cost will now will be around 60 cents a liter - a reduction of about 35 percent.
“The government will continue to push for full deregulation of the petroleum sector," said Jonathan. "However, we see the hardship being suffered by Nigerian and after consideration and consultations with governance and the leadership of the national assembly the government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petroleum to 97 naira per liter.”
Nigerian union leaders subsequently said they will suspend the nationwide strike over fuel prices that has crippled the country for the last week.
The fuel price still remains higher than the 45 cents per liter Nigerians paid before the government ended a popular consumer fuel subsidy on New Year's Day. The subsidy was one of the few benefits that the population enjoyed from Nigeria’s oil wealth.
Scrapping the subsidy caused the price of gasoline at the pump to double overnight, from $1.70 per gallon, or 45 cents per liter, to at least $3.50 per gallon - or 94 cents per liter.
Tens of thousands of people, many of whom live on less than $2 a day, took to the streets to express their consternation at the spiraling transport and food costs.
In his speech Monday, President Jonathan condemned the behavior of some protesters as "anarchical."
“It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the de-regulation policy have hijacked the protest. This has prevented an objective assessment and consideration of the issues," said Jonathan. It promotes discord, anarchy and insecurity to the detriment of public peace. The government also salutes Nigerians who by and large conducted themselves peacefully while expressing their grievances. Let me assure you that government will continue to respect people’s rights to express themselves.”
As president Jonathan made the announcement on Nigerian television, a protest by labor and other civil societies due to take place on Monday was cancelled due to fears that government supporters were planning to hijack the event. |
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Jane Labous for VOA News in Dakar
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