At last, soldiers leave the streets of Lagos

Soldiers who were deployed by President Goodluck Jonathan to crush protests in Lagos against the removal of fuel subsidy have left the streets of Lagos yesterday.

The soldiers, armed with machine guns and armored tanks were deployed to Lagos streets in the wee hours of Monday, 16 January as the masses gathered for yet another protest. They have however left all the strategic places they were deployed to.

Fuel Price slashed to N97, Mr President Speaks…

Dear Compatriots,

1.    This is the second time in two weeks I will address you on the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. In the last seven days, the nation has witnessed a disruption of economic activities.  Although, the economic imperatives for the policy have been well articulated by government, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) went ahead to declare a nationwide strike.

2.    There was also near-breakdown of law and order in certain parts of the country as a result of the activities of some persons or groups of persons who took advantage of the situation to further their narrow interests by engaging in acts of intimidation, harassment and outright subversion of the Nigerian state. I express my sympathy to those who were adversely affected by the protests.

3.    At the inception of the deregulation policy, Government had set up the Justice

Alfa Belgore Committee to liaise with Labour and other stakeholders to address likely grey areas in the policy, but despite all our efforts, Labour refused the option of dialogue and also disobeyed a restraining order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

  4.    However, following the intervention of the Leadership of the National Assembly, and other well-meaning Nigerians, Labour accepted to meet with government, but this yielded no tangible result.

5.    It has become clear to government and all well-meaning Nigerians that other interests beyond the implementation of the deregulation policy have hijacked the protest. This has prevented an objective assessment and consideration of all the contending issues for which dialogue was initiated by government. These same interests seek to promote discord, anarchy, and insecurity to the detriment of public peace.

6.    Government appreciates that the implementation of the deregulation policy would cause initial hardships and commends Nigerians who have put forth suggestions and credible alternatives in this regard. 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 the people’s right to express themselves within the confines of the law and in accordance with the dictates of our democratic space.

7.    Government will continue to pursue full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. However, given the hardships being suffered by Nigerians, and after due consideration and consultations with state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly, government has approved the reduction of the pump price of petrol to N97 per litre. The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has been directed to ensure compliance with this new pump price.

8.    Government is working hard to reduce recurrent expenditure in line with current realities and to cut down on the cost of governance. In the meantime, government has commenced the implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment projects: including the Federal Government- assisted mass transit programme which is already in place, and job creation for the youth.

9.     Furthermore, the legal and regulatory regime for the petroleum industry will be reviewed to address accountability issues and current lapses in the Industry. In this regard, the Petroleum Industry Bill will be given accelerated attention. The report of the forensic audit carried out on the NNPC is being studied with a view to implementing the recommendations and sanctioning proven acts of corruption in the industry.

10.   Let me assure Nigerians that this administration is irrevocably committed to tackling corruption in the petroleum industry as well as other sectors of the economy. Consequently, all those found to have contributed one way or the other to the economic adversity of the country will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

11.    My dear compatriots, I urge you to show understanding for the imperatives of the adjustment in the pump price of petrol and give government your full support to ensure its successful implementation. I further appeal to Nigerians to go back to work and go about their normal duties as government has made adequate arrangements for the protection of life and property throughout the federation.

12.  Government will not condone brazen acts of criminality and subversion. As President, I have sworn to uphold the unity, peace and order of the Nigerian State and by the grace of God, I intend to fully and effectively discharge that responsibility.  Let me add that we are desirous of further engagements with Labour. I urge our Labour leaders to call off their strike, and go back to work.

13.    Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must collectively safeguard its unity.

14.   Thank you. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR

President,

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Quote of the Day: Oronto Douglas

Facts have shown that more Nigerians make use of diesel generators than petrol generators. So, the removal of fuel subsidy by the Government will not affect them (Nigerians).

Oh yeah?

DAY 5: Meeting between FG and Labour ends in Deadlock

The meeting held yesterday behind closed doors between Labour parties and the Federal Government ended in deadlock. The two parties could not reach an agreement and so the strike continues. Another meeting would be held tomorrow, Saturday.

We hope GEJ’s Government will do what Nigerians are demanding and also remove fuel subsidy, so we can continue with our day to day activities. It’s bad enough we are in darkness now and most people have started complaining about being broke.

Photo of the Day

                           So the kids are reacting with one of them demonstrating. Good Lord! lol

Revert to N65 or resign: it is as simple as that

The members of the Ogun State Youth Alliance on Monday called on Goodluck Jonathan to revert to the pre-2012 N65 per litre of petrol or resign as the President of Nigeria.

During their rally to the corporate headquarters of Punch Nigeria Ltd in Magboro, on Monday, the protesters, led by Adesina Ibrahim, Moses Ehix and the youth leader, Oladele Kehinde, they also advised the Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to resign.

The protesters carried placards and leaf branches in their march that covered Arepo, Wawa, Ibafo and Magboro.

Singing and chanting anti-Federal Government songs and slogans, they said life had become difficult for the ordinary Nigerian because of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Jonathan Administration.

“When we voted for Jonathan, we thought he would make policies that would favour us,” said Ibrahim, a lawyer. “But he has shown that he is not there to make the right policies. All that we’re demanding is that he reverses his anti-people policy on fuel subsidy removal.”

Another leader of the protesting youths, Ehix, said that the finance minister was only implementing the International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies.

Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon also speaks on fuel subsidy removal

"I have read with acatalectic disgust, governments asinine and puerile ratiocinations attempting to justiceate the proposed removal of subsidies from petroleum products. It has asseverated that it’s intentions is guided by the need to checkmate the odoriferous excesses of a machiavellian and mephistophelean cabal and i have said to myself, what a shame? What a self indicting admittal of the failure of governance? What anhocus-pocus? What an anathematous disdain for it’s citizenry?

Must the people now bear the brunt for governments ineptitude, inefficiency and pusillanimity in squaring up with these economic philistines and fat cows? I feel even more nauseated and vexed that the Governors Forum has posthaste conferred an apocalyptic imprimatur on this genie. Let’s not forget that majority of these same Governors had earlier called for this state of affairs as a condition sinequanon for paying the minimum wage. What an opprobrium? What a deprecable descent from the sublime to the ridiculous? It’s up to us all to put this Presidential and Gubernatorial genie back into the bottle but are we prepared?

Thousands of Nigerians flood the streets protesting against the new fuel price

Thousands of Nigerians nationwide took to the streets protesting the increment of fuel this morning in the country. Photos speak:

Fuel Subsidy Removal: No to this new Nigeria

This is a serious matter. As a matter of fact, this is SAD and gives the people of this country no HOPE. How can a president of a Nation wake up on the first day of a new year and what he could give to his people is fuel subsidy removal. This was the same government that promised light, good roads, good education, free health care, what did we get out of all these? NONE and next he fulfils his promise about the fuel subsidy removal, FANTASTIC!

This is a Nation where we practice democracy but in the real sense we don’t. A litre of fuel now sells for N148. How do you expect the masses to survive when the minimum wage is only N18,000. Nothing is done about increasing their salaries to give them a better life, yet they increase the cost of fuel which automatically increases everything to the least thing you need in life, may be a BLADE. Because in producing a blade for instance, electricity is needed, which is not available, so they need fuel that is one. Secondly, the producers need to transport it to the sellers before it finally gets to the consumers, in doing this, fuel is essential, so it’s a simple case of everything we need increasing.

We didn’t have fuel in the house for gen yesterday and we couldn’t get anywhere. We asked a friend who lives in Mowe to help out, but right from Mowe to Lagos yesterday no filling station was operating. Then someone buzzed us around 11pm that a filling station has started selling fuel, we bought 10litres for N1480, which was originally N650. Everyone was lamenting. You could see the way people were grumbling and swearing. Frustration was written all over their faces. And the attendant that wanted to remove N50 because some people bought in kegs was almost beaten up out of frustration.

This morning, a bike ride for N50 is now N100. Transportation is now double the price. We are not sure of food yet. But once the holidays are off, and people resume work trouble starts.

Since we have little or no say, we implore NLC not to take this, this is unaccepted. If it will take us to stay home for days and resolve this, please let us do it. Yes I know they will say it will collapse the economy, let it collapse it. Is the economy not collapsed already? When we start buying things at incredible prices, is the economy not collapsed?

We say NO to this NEW Nigeria. This is UNACCEPTABLE. NO to GEJ oppressing us. NO to our youths committing SUICIDE since help is coming from nowhere. NO to our husbands being fraudsters/thieves since that is the only choice left for them. NO to this inhuman  act. We say NO to this NEW Nigeria. It is UNACCEPTABLE.