Fuel subsidy removal: Abuja under heavy security

AGAINST the directive of the Nigeria Police Command, FCT, that protesters would not be allowed in the city centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), on Sunday, directed Abuja residents to gather as early as 8.00 a.m. today at the Berger Junction for the take-off of the protest.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mike Zuokumor, had stated while briefing journalists on Saturday that protesters should go to the car park of the National Stadium and not venture to move around the city centres.
But in a message sent to Abuja residents, the labour and civil society coalition called on Abuja residents to be at Berger roundabout this morning for the strike.
The message read: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Civil Society Organisations inform the public that Berger roundabout is the meeting point for the anti-fuel price increase mass protests. Every day at 8.00 a.m from Monday, January 9, 2012, the protest will take off from Berger. Be there at Berger roundabout!”
Labour said, as Nigerians, it had the rights to freedom of expression, movement and association as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, said there was no going back on the strike and no intimidation from any quarters would stop the strike and the mass protest, adding that only the reversal of fuel price to N65 per litre could stop the strike as directed by the National Executive Councils of both the NLC and the TUC.
Abuja Central under security lockdown
Also, in anticipation of today`s national strike and protests by the NLC, the Central part of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) housing the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government has been placed under security lockdown.
All key federals building within the Central area are already cordoned off while the Occupy Nigeria Movement within the vicinity of the federal secretariat is  already excused out of what one security operative called the ‘security zone.’
The main road separating the Eagle Square from the gate of the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly has been closed down. Stern-looking security operatives blocked the road from the Police Force Headquarters up to the bridge leading to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) building, the National Ecumenical Centre and the National Mosque are also closed off with gun-wielding soldiers in war fatigues while the headquarters of the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCTA) is constructing barriers to cordon off protesters or attackers.
At the time of filling this report, a combined team of soldiers and police were still being dropped in strategic locations with a view to widening the security zone ahead of today`s strike.
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