General Strike Threatens Nigerian Ports

Labor unions throughout Nigeria have called for an indefinite national strike beginning today which could shut ports and affect transportation across the country.

The strike is in response the the government’s decision to eliminate public fuel subsidies. Fuel prices doubled to about 88 cents a liter after the elimination of the fuel subsidy on January 1. The government said that the end of the subsidy will save US$6.2 billion this year.

The government Friday issued a court restraining order to prevent a strike, but the Nigeria Labor Congress has announced it will proceed with the strike, according to a Voice of America report.

At the time of this writing, the Nigerian Ports Authority continued to run the following message on its site from Chief M. K. Ajayi, the Authority’s general manager for public affairs:

"Further to numerous public enquiries, the Management of Nigerian Ports Authority wishes to state that the Nation’s seaports remain open for business as usual. We also wish to add that we are in operation 24 hours /7 days a week. Consequently, port users are as usual assured of uninterrupted port services."