By Matthew Mahmood
Most of Nigeria's 160 million people live on less than $2 (£1.30) a day, so the sharp price increases have hit them hard.
—BBC
Industrial Unions, Human Rights Activists and the masses are on strike in Nigeria. They are protesting the whooping 116% fuel price increase by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN). Petrol price escalated to N141 per litre from N65 per litre on 1 January 2012. It was probably the worst New Year Day in the history of the country within 51 years.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives told selfish President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse the removal of fuel subsidy which led to the bogus increase. The legislators also told the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to suspend today’s strike but nay. The FGN has not changed its stand on the increment which was based on the policy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
IMF policies are hardly suitable for developing countries. Were such policies primarily formulated for developing countries in the first instance? Why can’t African institutions formulate and rely on their own economic policies? Jonathan and his cohorts are intellectually comatose and cannot see or reason beyond IMF. On BEN TV (Sky Channel 184), International Relations commentator Godson Asu said that IMF was fond of formulating harsh policies that could cripple countries.
FGN has approved 110 buses to be distributed to states in order to make the masses accept the new pump price of petrol. Jonathan has promised to cut the salaries of top government officials by 25%. A lot of people are not interested in FGN’s plan to use the billions recovered from subsidy removal on infrastructure. IMF cannot claim to be ignorant of the high level of corruption in the FGN therefore IMF policies are likely to be a waste of money and time in Nigeria.
IMF should not fund countries that are oil producers and Nigeria is one of such countries. Is IMF unaware that the presidency intends to spend almost N1 billionaire on food in 2012 while most Nigerians may starve? The masses are not fools… Enough is enough!
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Was Inspector General Of Police Drunk?
It was shocking that a protester was gunned down and some demonstrators were injured by the police in the Ogba protest that took place today in Lagos.
However, Nigeria’s 'drunken' Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim was on NTAi last night but he looked tipsy. He blinked repeatedly and could hardly focus on the screen or his speech.
We became a bit sceptical when the newscaster claimed that the IG said protesters and non-protesters would be protected by the police but when the camera swung on the IG his statement was incoherent with the news.
The incompetent President Goodluck Jonathan should contact the IG immediately and instruct him to call his killer squad to order. There was no need to open fire on innocent protesters or kill any of them.
If anybody filmed the shooting of the protester by the police, please send copies to lawyers, Human Rights Activists and the media.
These barbaric policemen should be prosecuted. Jonathan and Ringim’s names should be sent to the International Criminal Court. 2015 is not far away. Jonathan has repeatedly failed to remove Ringim from office because they both lack good performance in office and they won’t resign. R.I.P.
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