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Nigerian Strike Over Fuel Rates to Go On


The Associated Press

October 10, 2004


Security forces released the head of Nigeria's main labor organization on Sunday after a brief detention, but a nationwide strike will go ahead as planned, a spokesman for the labor group said.


Adams Oshiomhole, president of the Nigeria Labor Congress representing 29 unions, was stopped at Abuja's international airport Saturday as he was waiting for a flight to a southern Nigeria city, the union group said.


Information Minister Chukwuemeka Chikelu said Oshiomhole was released after being held briefly.


"My understanding was that he had some misunderstanding with some low-level security officials, and it has been resolved," Chikelu told The Associated Press.

Owei Lakemfa, a spokesman for the labor congress, confirmed the release.


The Nigeria Labor Congress is planning to strike Monday to protest rising fuel prices in Africa's largest crude oil producer.

The strike will go ahead, Lakemfa said.


A general strike in Nigeria last year shut down businesses in the largest city, Lagos, and several other cities for eight days, prompting a government crackdown in which police killed at least 11 protesters.


Talks Friday among union and government representatives failed to reach an accord on government-supported fuel prices, setting the stage for Monday's strike.


Fuel prices rose by nearly 20 percent last month, the latest in a series of increases as the government cut subsidies in a deregulation push.

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