Now that the strike is over

Nigerians are united in anger against the removal of subsidies, which they view as their only benefit from the nation's oil wealth. There is also deep mistrust of government after years of blatant corruption.

As at Friday last week when the strike entered its fifth day, the nation’s economy was said to have lost between N400billion and N420billion as a result of the impasse.

This much was confirmed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who on Thursday, last week, put the total figure lost at N387billion.  

Expectedly, different sectors of the nation’s economy have also been counting their losses since the commencement of the strike.

Saturday the 14th of January 2012, Nigerians rushed to markets to take advantage of the break in the strike to stock up on food, but they found prices had tripled -- a mix of sellers taking advantage of high demand and the result of increased transport costs.

"All the same, we still have to buy because we have to eat," said Olabisi Adekoya, a 36-year-old mother of four at a Lagos market.

Government officials and economists say removing subsidies was essential and will allow much of the $8 billion per year in savings to be ploughed into projects to improve the country's woefully inadequate infrastructure.

An uneasy calm returned to Nigeria's cities Tuesday, a day after two Nigerian labor groups suspended their nationwide strike over the elimination of the country's fuel subsidy.

In suspending the strikes, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress cited successes gained by demonstrators, including an announcement Monday by President Goodluck Jonathan slashing fuel prices.

In Lagos, the country's commercial center, vehicles filled the streets Tuesday but traffic was still at lower-than-normal levels.

A heavy military presence was still evident in the city's streets in the evening, with armed checkpoints set up at most key bridges and along major roads in the city.

Many fuel stations displayed a price of N97 per liter, the new price announced by the government Monday. 

It's important to recall that the protests began earlier this month after fuel that had cost about N65 shot up to N141 when the subsidy was removed.

It was upsetting to discover however that even though the people thought they had finally won there was no fuel to be bought as black markets sold at N300 per liter and fuel stations "claimed" they had none.

In a signal that the government has listened to public complaints about widespread corruption, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was also tasked Tuesday with investigating fraud over fuel imports and sales.

But while the NLC and TUC urged demonstrators to go home as they suspended their industrial action, it remained unclear whether they will accept the fuel-price cut and call for a permanent end to the strikes and protests.

A third organization, the Joint Action Front, issued a statement deploring the suspension and urging continued strikes and protests until the government agrees to restore gas prices to what they were before the subsidy ended.

In another statement Tuesday, the JAF criticized the inspector general of police, Hafiz Ringim, over his warning that any Nigerians taking part in protests would be arrested and charged, and that anyone calling for a change of government would be prosecuted for treason.

JAF Secretary Abiodun Aremu condemned Ringim's statement as "uncivilized and provocative" and accused him of seeking to "repress the legitimate expression and freedom of assembly of Nigerians."

The union said it would consult with the public over continuing the strike action.

But there were no protesters to be seen on the streets of Lagos Tuesday, following the warning from Ringim.

Police continued to stop and shine lights into vehicles passing through the city, while soldiers equipped with armed personnel carriers were stationed by the so-called "freedom parks" where protesters had congregated.

Lagos state Gov. Babatunde Fashola called Monday for the immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Lagos, a sign of dissent among the authorities over the handling of the protests.

In a written statement, Fashola said there was no development in the state that warranted such a large military deployment and the protests had been largely peaceful and lawful.

"For me this is not a matter for the military. The sooner we rethink and rescind this decision the better and stronger our democracy will be," he said, saying public discourse on political matters should be encouraged.

"If anything, this is a most welcome transformation of our democracy in the sense that it provokes a discussion of economic policies and ... may result in political debate," he added.

MEMORIES OF THE FUEL SUBSIDY STRIKE

Harmattan Skin Hazards

Is your skin feeling dry and tight -- even itchy or flaky? Any number of things can strip your skin of its protective oils. The result: Everything from chapped lips and itchy skin to cracked heels. Relief is in your grasp. Use this pictorial guide to see top cold-weather threats to your skin and what you can do about them.

SOS for Chapped Lips

No one is immune from dry lips this dry season! Here’s how to cope: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Liberally apply petroleum jelly to your lips. Put on lip balm or lipstick every time you go outside. Avoid being in the sun and wind too much. Don't lick your lips -- it may feel better briefly, but it only makes chapped lips worse.

Heal Cracked Heels

Painful, cracked heels are a common skin condition, especially this season. They are often caused by dry skin. Having calluses around the rim of the heel can complicate the problem. In some cases, dry cracked feet can lead to infection or make walking painful. Keep feet healthy by marinating cracked heels in petroleum jelly, covering them with plastic wrap, and putting on a pair of socks overnight. You should see improvement in three nights.

Give Dry Hands Extra Care

Your hands may be hard hit by the cold air. Washing your hands frequently helps eliminate cold and flu germs, but it also increases dryness. And unless you wear gloves every time you go out, hands may be more exposed to cold than other parts of your body. Give dry hands some extra TLC by using a glycerin-based moisturizer when you wake up, before you go to bed, and any time your hands feel dry throughout the day.

Choose a Winter Moisturizer

Should you change your moisturizer? Maybe. If you usually use a light lotion, try a heavier cream, at least on dry skin patches. Ointments -- like petroleum jelly -- have more oil than creams or lotions. That makes them more greasy, too, so they may be best for feet and body. Minimize the greasy feeling by using a very small amount and gently but thoroughly rubbing it into skin. Apply after a warm shower (more on that later).

Lock in Moisture After Your Bath

Right after you step out of the tub, pat skin dry and apply moisturizer to retain the water your skin just absorbed. A glycerin- or hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer can increase the amount of water that’s drawn into your skin. Baby oil (mineral oil) is also a good choice, because it prevents water from evaporating from your skin. Don't stop there: Liberally re-apply moisturizer throughout the day, especially to troublesome dry skin patches.

Show Eczema the Exit

Eczema is an umbrella term for different kinds of skin inflammation. It is marked by dry skin that itches or burns. When skin becomes dry and irritated, eczema can flare.  Stay one step ahead by moisturizing frequently with an oil-based ointment that contains sunscreen. Sweating and overheating can also trigger the itch/scratch cycle, so dress in easy-to-peel-off layers. Ask your dermatologist about prescription treatments.

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

On Tuesday the 3^rd of January 2011 protesters shut down petrol stations, formed human barriers along motorways and hijacked buses in Nigeria's biggest city Lagos. This was done as a result of the shock in the doubling of fuel prices.

Most Nigerians see the subsidy as the only benefit they derive from living in an oil rich nation. 

“We are meeting this morning on the fuel subsidy removal. We'll hold a press conference by 2 p.m. (15:00 SA time) to announce our decision to Nigerians,” said Owei Lakemfa, general secretary of the National Labour Congress (NLC).

Protests also occurred in other parts of Nigeria on Tuesday, including Kano in the north, the Niger Delta in the southeast and in Ilorin, Kwara State, in the west.

A protest goes fatal

The Nigeria Labour Congress said on Tuesday that it is going to hold President Goodluck Jonathan responsible for a yet to be identified young man allegedly killed by the police in Ilorin, Kwara State during protest against fuel subsidy removal organized in that city.

NLC reaction position was contained in a press release signed by Abdulwaheed Omar, President NLC, the Congress made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday afternoon.

Reports indicated that a young man who was part of the anti fuel hike protest was shot dead around the Post Office in central Ilorin, Kwara State.

NLC alleged that the protester was killed by armed policemen from the Area A Division, close to UBA Ilorin and the State Police Command along Sulu Gambari Road, Ilorin. 

While regretting the death of the protester, the NLC said President Jonathan cannot absolve himself from the unfortunate event.

“The Police is directly under the control and command of the Presidency and it is the Jonathan administration’s inhuman policy that has resulted in the murder of an innocent citizen.  The NLC holds the Jonathan administration liable for this murder and advises it to fish out its agents who shot protesters in Ilorin and bring them to justice”, said NLC.

 “First, the Presidency had invited Labour to a follow-up discussion on the issue of fuel subsidy removal only for it to abort the process by removing the subsidy.  Secondly, it announced to Nigerians that it was consulting them on the issue only for it to announce new PMS prices.  Thirdly, the government announced that even if the subsidy is to be removed, it will be from April 1, 2012 only for it to be carried out  on January 1, 2012”

The Congress also said “attacks on peaceful demonstrators, the arrests in Abuja and the murder of a protester by the police do not portray a government that is interested in dialogue and peaceful negotiations”.

NLC said it is seeking legal opinion as to the constitutionality of spending public funds without appropriation by the National Assembly on the Christopher Kolade Committee set up for the implementation of projects captured in the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme document.

NLC has also commended Nigerians for what it described as massive protests over the removal of fuel subsidy across the country on Tuesday.

General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), a former Military President of Nigeria, has added his voice to the controversial issue of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy saying that it would have been better for the Federal Government to seek political solutions to the subsidy removal issue and the FG should have also kept its word that the issue would be decided in April 2012 as this would have given the administration enough time to explain its standpoint and consult with the people.

In a statement, Babangida said, “On the issue of fuel subsidy removal, it is my opinion that it is ill-timed.

The issue of subsidy should be seen more as politics and not economics, because the sole purpose of government is for the good of the people and not to create hardship. It is better to seek political solution to the subsidy discourse than invoking the sentiments of economics. Government should have kept its word till April by which time better explanation would have been given before implementation takes effect.

In lieu of these developments, one wonders how the government expects the masses to get around the city.