Nationwide strikes planned to protest rising fuel costs

Nigeria's labour leaders plan a series of rallies around the nation to protest the planned privatisation of oil concerns, which some feel will hike up prices in a nation already beset by poverty and a lack of basic utilities.Nigeria’s main labour movement is planning rallies around the country to protest against the threat of rising fuel prices, a low minimum wage and lack of progress with electoral reform in Africa’s top oil exporter.The protests are due to begin with a march in the commercial capital Lagos on Wednesday before moving to Asaba, capital of the southern Delta state and the northern cities of Kano and Maiduguri over the next 10 days.A second phase of demonstrations is planned for other cities around Africa’s most populous nation, said Owei Lakemfa, spokesman for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), an umbrella labour movement which is co-ordinating the planned action.“Generally the Nigerian people are not happy about the government because it has not met the minimum demands,” he said.“These protests are a midway between the dialogue we have been trying to hold with government and a national general strike. If the government does not respond we will move to the next phase,” he added.The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said the protests may be used by “desperate elements to cause chaos and anarchy” and called on labour leaders to return to the negotiating table.