Fuel strike enters second day

A general strike in Nigeria which has helped push world oil prices to record highs entered its second day today, as unions continued protest over the rising cost of fuel at home.

“The strike is going on. It is entering its second day,” said Owei Lekeimfa, spokesmanor the Nigeria Labour Congress, which is spearheading the strike.

Hundreds of protesters took to almost deserted streets in several major Nigerian cities yesterday, as most workers stayed at home in response to the strike call. In the northern city of Kano, police said a 12-year-old boy was killed in clashes between police and protesters.

However, the strike had no immediate effect on flow in Africa’s largest oil exporter, failing to disrupt the 2.5 million barrels daily which the country exports.

Nigeria is the world’s seventh-largest oil exporter and the fifth-biggest source of US oil imports.

Oil futures for November delivery surged to 53.64 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, as the Nigerian strike raised supply fears at a time of reduced output in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf of Mexico.

Union leaders are demanding the government reverse price hikes last month that saw the price of fuel in Nigeria rise from 43 naira (25 cent) per litre to 53 naira (28 cent per litre).

The fuel market was deregulated last year, prompting a series of price hikes that were met with widespread protests.