Nigerian unions ended a week-old nationwide strike yesterday hours after the President climbed down on a petrol price hike, while security forces cracked down on holdout protesters.
The strike and mass protests over a sharp hike in fuel costs had shut down Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, putting intense pressure on the government as it also faced a wave of attacks blamed on Islamists.
As President Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement to reduce petrol prices by about 30 per cent was broadcast early yesterday, soldiers occupied main protest sites and set up checkpoints in key areas.
They later fired tear gas and shot in the air to disperse demonstrators, while troops also drove armoured vehicles toward protesters in the economic capital Lagos to disperse them.