A nationwide strike in Nigeria is in its third day Friday after overnight talks between government and union officials broke down.

People stand next to their motor bikes as they await fuel to arrive during a nationwide general strike in Lagos, 21 Jun 2007

Unions have threatened to shut down the country’s water and electricity supplies unless the government fully reverses a recent 15 percent increase in fuel prices.

The strike has already shut down most schools, banks, and government offices across the country. Oil production and exports appear to be unaffected, although the unions have threatened to halt those activities as well.

The increase in fuel prices was imposed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo before he left office last month. His successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, has offered to cut the price increase by half.

A top government negotiator, Babagana Kingibe, said Friday that authorities will clamp down on union efforts to block streets and forcibly shut down businesses that want to open. He said that kind of act is against the law and will no longer be tolerated.

Nigeria is one of the world’s biggest producers of crude oil, but it is almost completely dependent on imports of refined fuel. The central government has subsidized fuel for many years – a move that impoverished Nigerians have come to depend on as one of the few benefits they receive from Abuja.

VOA News – Nigeria Strike In Third Day After Negotiations Break Down

Lagos is sub-Saharan Africa’s largest and most vibrant city, writes the BBC’s Sola Odunfa in a special report on cities in Focus on Africa magazine:

When General Ibrahim Babangida decreed the immediate relocation of the Nigerian government from Lagos to Abuja in 1992, many thought that was the end of the glory days of the city on the Atlantic – but 15 years later, Lagos life has never been more exciting.

Lagos’s beer parlours are open 24 hours a day

Babangida had lost political support in Lagos because of his long-winding transition to civil rule, and was booed whenever he ventured out. He escaped from the open hostility in Lagos to seek relative peace in the new capital city, which was then a vast construction yard.

Thousands of federal civil servants were forced to make a hurried and unplanned relocation to Abuja. Federal office buildings were abandoned to the mercy of looters. Lagos was shorn of power and influence. Property prices tumbled.

Soon, however, people found that the big bosses who deserted Lagos still held tight to their official residences in the city.

Abuja had nothing to offer them after office hours, so they would fly back to Lagos either on Thursday evening and return to Abuja only on Monday morning.

‘God’s own city’

It was those civil servants who brought to the attention of Lagosians the intangibles that gave the city, the largest in sub-Saharan Africa, its character. The disorder, filth, noise and overcrowding became “qualities” they longed for.

Historians say Lagos dwellers have always loved social gatherings

And so Lagos gained a new lease of life. The shock of desertion by government wore off and the people settled down to making money through other means to sustain their fast lifestyle.

The slogan “Lagos is God’s own city where Satan prowls” was coined – and the city lives the slogan to the letter.

The city does not sleep. When the lights are out at midnight in some neighbourhoods, in others it is the start of day.

Highbrow Victoria Island – once a decent, quiet neighbourhood where the streets were dead after 8pm – is today full of fat-pocket patrons, with giggling young girls in tow, strolling into its upmarket nightclubs at 2am.

Meanwhile Mushin and Surulere have huge loudspeakers outside the doors of hundreds of beer parlours, and blare out juju and apala music, at full volume, almost 24 hours a day.

Local historian Kunle Akinsemoyin says early Lagos dwellers “loved social gatherings, drumming, dancing, merry-making – and freely indulged in them on the slightest pretext”.

In modern Lagos, people indulge in their pleasures on a daily basis as long as they can afford it – or find someone else to pick up the bill, voluntarily or otherwise.

Little to drink

Everybody in Lagos complains strongly about traffic congestion. Many workers and traders leave home at 6am in order to get to work at 8am – for a journey that should take 20 minutes. When they end the day’s chores in the early evening, they may not reach home until 10pm.

But this does not stop large numbers of people migrating into Lagos every day from all parts of Nigeria to partake in its assumed prosperity.

The majority of them end up on the streets. But Lagosians are generous. It is said that no-one in the city goes to bed hungry, and this is one of the reasons why there are so many beggars.

In Lagos, there is sea water everywhere – but little to drink. The metropolis has grown so big and fast that the once-adequate public water supply now serves less than half of the population.

The state government confesses it can no longer supply potable water free of charge, and has introduced monthly fixed charges – but only residents in affluent neighbourhoods, like Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikoyi, pay.

The vast majority are not bothered because they buy drinking water either in sachets or in plastic kegs from street vendors.

Now that this year’s rains have started, blocked drains are flooding their contents on to the streets. Lagosians merely shrug their shoulders and set up their tents on the filth to party. Partying, like life, must go on.

BBC NEWS | Africa | Lagos: Africa’s party capital

Last Saturday May 26th 2007, the outgoing President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo chose Sierra Leone as the country to which he made his very last official international trip and on the visit to Sierra Leone, he has endorsed the candidacy of the Vice President Solomon Ekuma Berewa as the next President of Sierra Leone.

The Nigerian President made his endorsement at the official dedication of the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Youth Centre at Koya in Rural Sierra Leone where he was a Special Guest.

Pre-empting his pronouncement of support, H.E. Obasanjo first stated how closely he had been following developments in Sierra Leone and that based upon the information he had, he was going to make a statement about the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone based on the clear pattern he has seen emerging in Africa.

He then categorically endorsed the candidacy of the Honourable Vice President of Sierra Leone, Solomon Ekuma Berewa.

“Insha-Allah, Vice President Berewa will be the next President of Sierra Leone. I say things as I see it,” President Obasanjo firmly said. And in his now typical, well known frank style of speaking, he added that if anyone does not like what he has just said, that was the person’s business, and affirmed that he owed no apology for endorsing the Presidential ambitions of the ruling party or their Presidential aspirant.

Continuing, the President of Nigeria then proceeded to define the words ‘Change’ and ‘Continuity’ in the context of Nigeria’s and Sierra Leone’s local political theatres.

Obasanjo, Kabbah & Berewa chat at Youth Training Centre, Koya.

Obasanjo affirms that indeed what he had heard and seen with the chants of Solo-B along the streets was a confirmation to him that all the information he had been receiving about just how popular Solomon Berewa was in Freetown was surely true.

“Change is when one eminent personality will leave the seat of power and another eminent personality will take over his place. That is change; as for continuity, that means that the Political Party in power will continue to build upon their programmes and development aims of their countries. So, I have now defined Change and Continuity for you very clearly,” Obasanjo lectured to a loud applause and hearty appreciation from the audience of mostly youths.

Obasanjo postulated that he was happy to see that Sierra Leone was learning from Nigeria where they had also gone through change and continuity in exactly the manner above that he had defined. He explained that in less than seventy-two hours from that time, Nigeria would be changing Presidents and he (Obasanjo) would hand over to the new President. However, he assured that his political party will continue to build upon their Programmes in the interest of Nigeria.

Obasanjo also strongly warned Sierra Leone not to learn the “bad things of Nigeria” but to only copy the good ones.

“I beg of you, there are many bad things in Nigeria. Ar say, don’t copy them or bring them to Sierra Leone. Only copy the good aspects of anything Nigerian,” Obasanjo said in the local Pidgin English.

The outgoing Nigerian President also entreated young Sierra Leoneans to seize of the opportunity of a second chance in life.

“God is a God of second chances. You all remember the story of Jonah in the Holy Bible. If you missed your first chance at formal education for whatever reason, this Youth Education Centre is your second chance. Not everyone will get to go to University and even of those who go to University, not all of them will be likely to make good. However, this Centre and other such Centres being provided by your Government are to be taken as a means by which you will learn how to use your heads and hands to make good for yourselves and the society in which you live,” Obasanjo impressed upon the young men and women present at the Youth Training Centre.

Obasanjo whilst recounting the efforts of Nigeria in Sierra Leone, assured the gathering that in the spirit of “Continuity”, his successor in Nigeria will continue to pour in efforts for the welfare of Sierra Leone both before and after Sierra Leone’s next elections.

Obasanjo’s successor, President-Elect Umaru Yar’Adua will take up office as the next President of Nigeria tomorrow, Tuesday May 29th 2007.

After the Dedication of the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo Youth Centre, the entourage moved on to State House where President Obasanjo was awarded Sierra Leone’s highest National Honour. President Olusegun Obasanjo in recognition of his service to the people of Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Africa and the World is now a Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic of Sierra Leone (GCRSL).

An Appreciation was rendered by Chief Justice Ade Renner-Thomas and the Citation was read out by Professor Kaikai, the Information Minister.

At the State House occasion, President Olusegun Obasanjo diplomatically reiterated his endorsement of Vice President Solomon Berewa to become the next President of Sierra Leone.

President Obasanjo flew out of Sierra Leone back to Nigeria that same day.

Link to Obasanjo Endorses Berewa in Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone News

MONROVIA, Liberia, 05/27 – Nigeria`s outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo visited Liberia and Sierra Leone Saturday to receive top honours for his country`s role in helping quell civil wars in the two west African states.
His swansong tour of the two west African nations comes three days ahead of the swearing-in of his successor, Umaru Yar`Adua.
Obasanjo first visited Liberia`s seaside capital Monrovia where he held talks with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who bestowed on him the Knight Great Band Order, Liberia`s highest civilian order.
“When we found ourselves tearing each other apart, you took the lead to put yourself, your nation, and your people at risk,” said Sirleaf, Africa`s first woman president.
Nigeria, west Africa`s military powerhouse and one of the continent`s top oil producers, contributed the largest contingent to west African and UN peacekeeping forces in Liberia, wracked for 14 years by back-to-back wars.
Obasanjo then went on to Sierra Leone where he was given a similar award by President Tejan Ahmed Kabbah for Nigeria`s military involvement in helping stop a brutal 10-year civil war that officially ended in 2001.
Receiving the Grand Cross of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Obasanjo said: “It is my hope that the longstanding relationship between Sierra Leone and Nigeria will continue particularly with the incoming new leader.”
Sierra Leone`s Revolutionary United Front rebel group murdered, enslaved and mutilated civilians during a decade-long reign of terror that killed up to 200,000 people.

Link to AngolaPress – News