Despite Tuesday’s assurances after the National Security Council meeting in Abuja by the Nigerian Inspector-General of Police Hafiz Ringim that government will not stop protecting lives and property, another mobile policeman killed a yet to be identified commuter at Ibogun, a town along the Lagos-Ibadan speedway.
Moments after the IGP Ringim’s assurances which a skeptical citizenry now take with a pinch of unseriousness, police continue to turn the guns on the people whose taxes provide funds for their bullets and equipment. So far in the nine last days, about seven Nigerians have fallen because the police is eager to pull the trigger before reasoning.
Nigerians converged on every available space, as promised on Monday. They came back in greater numbers in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and elsewhere. As usual the protesters were more creative, as witnessed in places like Benin City, where the Nigerian Labor Congress and Trade Union Congress have now called on marchers to adopt peaceful sit-at-home options so that the pockets of violence do not escalate.
Commercial activities in Abuja remain low, the size of protests increased and more vehicles are visible on the roads. In Ilorin, the procession took off from Offa Road all the way to the Governor’s House and Ibrahim Taiwo Road.
In Akure, protesters came out and massed on the Cultural Center, where they paid tribute to the Fallen Soldier cenotaph and marched to the city center where angry youths came out waving leaves.
In Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi introduced a N4.00 subsidy to be paid for by the state government.
The economic implication is about $4 billion in two days. The Nigerian capital market continues to slide although the Nigerian Stock Exchange remains in operation.
Speakers at the Lagos rally included Funke Akindele, a well-known actress; Ajibola Pasuma, popularly known as Fuji Sugar; Mr. Wale Osun, an activist, among others. Some of them called for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to halt the conspiracy to make Africa pay for the economic meltdown in America and Europe.
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dezeani Allison-Madueke, said that the proceeds from the subsidy removal would free the downstream competition. She hardly grants interviews, a gross disconnect from a critical citizenry, but she now crooning through Channels, a local T.V. station.
Oil workers have started downing tools. Sharpedgenews.com learned that workers at downstream oil loading bays have joined offshore workers still on the rigs. Military personnel are guarding strategic installations while oil vessels still come on for crude purchase as well as bringing in refined products.
Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, former Federal Capital Minister, said that he joined the march because the fuel subsidy removal is bad economic policy.
Occupy Nigeria protesters say they would march on Eagle Square on Wednesday.