In a bid to address the planned picketing of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) premises in Maiduguri against the recently introduced fuel subsidy removal, the Borno State Police Command, Nigerian Army, and other security agencies held a crucial meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Borno State Chapters.
During the meeting, Brig. Gen Jafar Ibrahim, the Garrison Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 7th Division, urged residents to respond to the fuel subsidy removal with caution. He emphasized that any disruptive action could intensify the already fragile state and provide an opportunity for lurking Boko Haram terrorists to cause havoc.
Brig. Gen Jafar Ibrahim called for calm, acknowledging that the government must have valid reasons for implementing the policy. He assured the public that measures would be put in place to alleviate its impact on the people. He also appealed to the NLC and TUC leadership to consider the delicate situation in the state when planning any form of protest, while encouraging them to involve stakeholders in their activities.
CP Abdu Umar, the State’s Commissioner of Police, explained that the stakeholders’ meeting, which included the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), NNPCL, NLC, TUC, and others, aimed to address the proposed picketing at the NNPCL premises on Friday. He clarified that both the TUC and NLC had discredited the picketing plan. He also noted that the issue of pump price was being discussed at the federal level, and the NLC and TUC had assured that the outcome of the meeting would be communicated to stakeholders.
Urging for peace and stability, CP Abdu Umar stressed the importance of maintaining a peaceful Borno State during the transitional government period. He expressed the police command’s commitment to upholding peace and appealed to the TUC and NLC to be available whenever their assistance is needed.
Representing the acting SSG, Danjuma Ali, the Secretary in the office of the Secretary to the State Government of Borno State, assured that the government would provide maximum support to ensure a peaceful resolution to the fuel subsidy removal issue.