0704 Summer 2003.pdf - Friends of Nigeria

Nigeria NewsUnions Call a General Striketo Protest Fuel Price HikePolice fired tear gas and live warningshots into the air to break up crowds ofdemonstrators, and militant unionmembers torched barricades as ageneral strike over fuel prices broughtNigeria to a standstill on Monday, June30. Later that day, security forces shotdead four Nigerians in Abuja, and aspeeding vehicle crashed into a groupof demonstrators in Lagos, killing fourmore. Stores and offices closed inLagos, including those of multinationaloil companies. International anddomestic airline flights ran hours late,or not at all, after air traffic controllersjoined the protest. Government officesand businesses in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna,and Port Harcourt also closed.Pamphlets distributed by the NigeriaLabour Congress (NLC) urged thepublic to ransack businesses thatopened during the strike and also calledon President Obasanjo to step down.As the strike spread, world oil pricesrose out of fear that the strike woulddisrupt Nigeria’s exports.The NLC had called for anindefinite general strike, unless thegovernment reversed an increase in fuelprices. The Petroleum and Natural GasSenior Staff Association of Nigeria(PENGASSAN) initially said that thestrike would not disrupt the processesof production, transportation, andrefining of crude oil, as shutting downthose facilities needs carefully plannedoperations. Yet it also said that if noagreement was reached by Tuesday, itwould have no choice but to shut downall operations in the oil and gas industry.PENGASSAN plays a critical role inloading Nigeria’s crude oil, as itsmembers monitor the quality andvolumes at export terminals.President Obasanjo called talks withthe NLC, the fuel marketers, and histop experts on petroleum and energy.However, the NLC president claimedthat Obasanjo had only agreed to set upa committee to look into the NLC’sarguments against a price increase.46FON NEWSLETTEREdited by Virginia DeLancy (04) 62–64Although the committee was to beginwork immediately, there was no indicationof when it would report back. Obasanjohas vowed, however, that he will not bowto NLC demands.The government recently increasedpetrol, diesel, and kerosene prices bymore than 50 percent to eliminatesubsidies on fuel and curb the smugglingof Nigerian petroleum products toneighboring countries where prices aremuch higher. The smuggling has beenpartly responsible for chronic fuelshortages within the country. Obasanjoalso says that Nigeria cannot afford cheappetrol because subsidies on importedrefined oil products of some $2 billionannually are diverting money from criticalsocial services such as health andeducation, and the country’s fourrefineries are unable to meet localdemand. (Source: UN Integrated RegionalInformation Networks [IRIN], 6/25/03; P.M.News [Lagos], 6/25/03; NY Times, 6/28/03, 6/30/032, 7/1/03).President Bush to Travel toAfrica in JulyPresident Bush will make his first tripto Africa from July 7-12, visiting Senegal,South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, andNigeria. The trip was postponed fromJanuary because of the then-impendingwar with Iraq. The agenda is expected toinclude the fight against AIDS, counterterrorism,and economic development.A new law authorizes a tripling of U.S.funds to $15 billion over the next fiveyears for fighting AIDS in 12 African and2 Caribbean countries. Bush has alsoproposed a 50% boost, to a total of $15billion a year by 2006, in aid fordeveloping countries, but the additional$5 billion would only go to the few poorcountries who are sufficiently tacklingcorruption, are committed to openmarkets, and are undertaking politicalreforms. In addition, the president hopesto complete negotiations on a trade dealwith Australia and countries in SouthernAfrica in 2004. (Source: NY Times, 6/20/03, 6/23/03; This Day [Lagos], 6/9/‘03).Chief Bola Ige’s SuspectedKiller Appointed MinisterPresident Obasanjo has appointed Dr.Adewale Oladipo minister-designate,representing Osun State. Oladipo, alecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile Ife, is one of the 16 suspects arrestedfor the December 23, 2001 murder ofChief Bola Ige, former Attorney Generalof Nigeria. The police in Abuja detainedhim for more than 7 weeks before beingreleased, although he claimed that heneither recruited thugs nor arranged anyvehicle to kill Ige, and that he neverplanned to kill anyone. (P.M. News[Lagos], 6/25/03).In early June, the Ige family withdrewfrom the trial of the suspected killers ofthe former Attorney General, expressingdismay at what they called the turning ofthe trial into “a stage for political theatrewith the accused treated as celebrities, . . .“ Prosecutors in the trial declared,however, that the case would go onregardless of the decision of the family,as the state, rather than the Ige family,owns the case. (Source: Vanguard[Lagos], 6/12/03).Obasanjo’s Daughter is NamedCommissionerPresident Obasanjo’s daughter Iyabois on the list of thirteen commissionernominees sent to the Ogun State Houseof Assembly. Iyabo, a veterinary doctor,is slated for the Ministry of Health.(Source: P.M. News [Lagos], 6/24/03).Minister of Health Ransome-Kuti DiesProf. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti,renowned pediatrician and formerMinister of Health (1985-1992), passedaway on June 1 at the age of 75 whileattending a World Health Organizationmeeting in London. Over the years, heheld many positions in London andNigeria, especially at the University ofLagos where, until his appointment asMinister, he was a director of the(Continued on page 5)