Call it the Nigerian Spring if you like. but whatever you choose to call it, Nigerians have begun to come out against the government’s unpopular decision to remove the subsidy on fuel. Reports reaching us indicate that protest pockets are beginning to form all over the country, and the momentum is beginning to build. Might the government have understimated the will of its citizens this time? We’re keenly following the developments. A huge portion of this action is being coordinated via social media, especially on Twitter, where the hashtags to follow are #occupynigeria and #fuelsubsidy. You can also view our curated Storify feed of Nigeria’s reactions to the fuel Subsidy removal.
There was a rumour about an allegedly leaked directive by the government for Telcos to shut down BIS services, and thereby foil communications. This report is still yet to be confirmed and we’re yet to get any news of BIS outages yet. If you’re having trouble with your tweeting however, check out this post on how to tweet via sms. The hashtags to follow on Twitter are #occupynigeria and #fuelsubsidy
Here’s a list of useful twitter accounts to follow, most of these people are live at the protests and are tweeting it as it happens.
Gbenga Sesan
Japhet Omojuwa
Kathleen Ndongmo
C. C. Ekekee
Akin Oyebode
Gbenga Shote
Feyi Fawehinmi
Chioma Chuka
Joachim MacEbong
Pearl Ezeokeke
Seun Fakze
Tomi Oladepo
EIE Nigeria
Gidi_Traffic
BudgitNg
Bankole Oluwafemi
Tolu Ogunlesi
Tomi Oladipo
Ogundamisi
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barely reported
03.01.2012 17:13
This past year has seen some if not the worst ecological disasters in history, BP spill, Fukushima, The Australian spill and this one. Nigerians are some of the most exploited people on earth in terms of their natural resources. Shell is one of the biggest to profit from this exploitation. It has been going on for generations. We have not forgotten about MEND, while we don't know the entire details of all of their illicit activities in Nigeria, we know enough to place this one company somewhere near the top of the worst evil doers in corporate history.
It is time for Africa to rise, it is time for Africans to have autonomy over their natural resources and means of living. no more cheap labor, no more cheap oil for export. their resources, not the west's not ours and certainly not Shell's.
It is time for Shell to repay it's bloody debt to Nigeria, a debt it has accumulated for generations, a debt which has no monetary value, but when applying the standards of the American EPA equates to around $7 million for each life lost due to their activity. The Nigerians deserve to get compensations from every litter which was ever sold cheap due to corrupt politicians and bribes. Fair price to go to the benefit of the people, not the war lords.
Dissolve Shell, fix Nigeria instead. their wealth is all ill gains, their profits would add to nothing without their many genocidal business practices.
Africa oh Africa, humanity's motherland. get your heads high, you lead the way, as you have always done, since the dawn of civilization. establish your autonomy, rid yourself of the corrupt and murderous and rise Africa, rise and show us the way.
Ken Saro-Wiwa will never die.