Nigeria's main trade union has called a general strike for Thursday in protest against a rise in fuel prices in the world's seventh biggest oil exporter, its leader said on Saturday.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Adams Oshiomhole said he expected "the first phase of the strike will last two weeks," raising fears in the oil industry that production could be affected.
"We want all Nigerians to use between Sunday and Wednesday to go to a bank and withdraw their money and prepare food, because we expect a prolonged strike," he said.
In June, the NLC suspended a crippling general strike over fuel prices which disrupted the West African country's economy for eight days.
On Friday, the country's two main oil unions gave the government a one-week ultimatum to clarify its position on fuel price deregulation and said they might join an action called by the NLC.
The NLC's National Executive Council said in a statement that the strike would involve "rallies and mass protests".
The protest "should be sustained until the petroleum prices are returned to the pre-October 1 rate," the council said.
Petrol prices rose by 17 percent to 39.9 naira (US$0.31) this week after Nigeria's Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency announced the liberalisation of the fuel market.
RSS