Ibadan Residents Protest Fuel Scarcity, PHCN Tariff, Unemployment

A Non-Government Organisation (NGO), the Joint Action Front (JAF), yesterday [Oct. 1] led thousands of Ibadan residents to protest the alleged insensitivity of the Federal Government to the challenges facing Nigerians. The protesters were led by the Oyo State JAF Co-ordinator, Dr. Ademola Aremu. The Academic Staff Union (ASUU), of University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, led by Dr. Segun Ajiboye; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Comrade Bashir Olanrewaju; National Socialist Movement; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and other civil society groups joined in the protests. Comrade Femi Aborishade, Comrade Abbey Trostky and many rights activists were among the protesters. The protesters converged in front on UI at 8am and marched on Samonda, Sango, Elewure, Bodija, Housing Estate, Favours, Bodija. They were accompanied by stern-looking anti-riot policemen and plain clothed security personnel. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions, such as “Nigeria at 52 still crawling like a toddler”; “Stop unemployment and poverty now”; “We say no to fuel hike, privatisation and casualisation”; “We need good governance” and “Education must be free”, among others. The protesters, comprising men, women and students, sang anti-government songs as the marched through the city. Aremu said the government had been insensitive to flooding, insecurity, infrastructural decay, fuel scarcity and price hike. He said the protest was to sensitise Nigerians to ask the government questions about the fuel subsidy probe, adding that corruption is responsible for Nigeria’s underdevelopment. Condemning the artificial scarcity of petrol, JAF said: We consider the artificial scarcity of petrol as a manifestation of the intrigues and game-plan of the Nigerian capitalist thieving elites and their representatives in government to fully implement the lingering deregulation policy of the downstream oil sector. “Why would the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) abandon repair works because of insecurity? How can a government, which had enough armed forces to unleash terror on peaceful demonstrators protesting the senseless fuel price hike in January, now lack enough armed forces to secure workers and pipelines? Education has not fared better. Lamenting the high rate of unemployment, Aremu said Nigerians are being exploited with the new billing rate of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).