#OccupyNigeria
Nigeria may not be on the front page of world news this week, but it will not be surprising if news of nationwide protests flood news sources starting next monday, Jan 9th. On the BBC Africa main page today.At the beginning of this month, the Nigerian government announced the removal of the existing fuel subsidy, making an already unpopular Goodluck Jonathan the principal target of many Nigerians’ anger. Fuel prices have more than doubled, even in the black market. This also led to the price increase of most essential goods.
If the removal of the fuel subsidy is not reversed, unions are announcing an indefinite strike and mass demonstrations starting Monday January 9th all over the country.
This article of the Sahara Reporter relays that the government will in no way consider reversing its decision.
The Occupy Nigeria movement seems to be building momentum all over the web, including Twitter, whose using the hashtags #occupynigeria and #fuelsubsidy. There is also a Facebook page, of course, Tumblr posts, and several blogs designed to keep Nigerians, in country and out, in the know. This blog by a certain lord Banks has some rather useful information and key links.
It is unclear to me what the ‘right’ thing to do is, but what is clear is that there needs to be more effective and honest communication from the government to its people. But I am often accused of being an idealist.
