NIGERIA readied for a nationwide transport strike over a doubling of fuel prices after the withdrawal of a government subsidy at time when the army and police are being concentrated against Muslim terrorists in the north, reports Agence France-Presse.
The withdrawal of the fuel subsidy has caused transport costs to soar, sharply increasing the price of commuting in a country where most live on less than US$2 per day.
Economists say removing the subsidy is needed re-direct funds to upgrade infrastructure and ease pressure on foreign reserves. The government says it spent more than US$8 billion on it in 2011.
But Nigerians view the subsidy as their only benefit from the nation's oil wealth and lack any trust in government after decades of deep-rooted corruption.
"To save Nigeria, we must all be prepared to make sacrifices," said President Goodluck Jonathan. But much of the country has been united against the move.
The police in the capital Abuja having announced a 15,000-strong deployment, said the report after a court ruled the strike was illegal, but unions say they are ignoring the ruling.
One union accused police of shooting a demonstrator dead, but authorities have denied this, saying he was killed by a mob, AFP said.
The House of Representatives approved a measure calling on the government to reinstate the subsidy, but there was no sign that President Jonathan would back down.