Fuel Subsidy Removal: Nigerians Take Over Abuja Streets

PM News

9 January 2012

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Nigerians Take Over Abuja Streets

Abuja residents trooped out enmase this morning to join forces with the NLC and TUC in their protests against the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol by the Federal Government.

The protesters defied repeated announcements made last night by the FCT Police Command that no protest would be allowed in Abuja. The announcement directed would be protesters to confine themselves to the large parking lot of the National Stadium in Abuja close to the city gate.

The FCT Police commissioner had stated in the announcement that the prohibition of protests in the city centre was to check miscreants who may capitalise on the mass protest to breach security in the city centre.

The warnings were ignored by the residents who were adequately mobilised by the joint action group made of civil society groups in collaboration with the TUC and the NLC.

The popular and ever busy Berger Roundabout was a ghost of itself until about 7:18 am when NLC and TUC members and Abuja residents started to converge there. The place soon became a beehive of activities as solidarity songs rent the air with protesters carrying placards.