Dalhatu snubs Nigerian fuel subsidy protesters in the UK

About 500 Nigerians in the United Kingdom and France gathered at the Nigerian High Commission, London today in a peaceful protest to show solidarity for Nigerians back home protesting against the decision of Nigerian government to remove subsidy on petrol.

The protest, which was organised by different groups of Nigerians youth based in the Uk, kicked off at noon just across the road from the Nigerian House (seat of the Nigerian High Commission) with drumming and dancing. Many of the protesters carried banners and placards calling on the government to reverse it’s decision to scrap subsidy on petrol.

The protesters also signed a petition that was delivered to officials of the High Commission. Midway into the protest, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom,  Dalhatu Tafida arrived in his official car. He waved to the protesters and quickly went into the high commission building. He declined to come out to address the protesters despite calls from them for him to do so as the most senior government representative in the UK.

The Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party, Dele Momodu, was at the protest where he  called on the government to revert to the old pump price.

“We must return to the status quo. Nigerians are not gaining anything as citizens of Nigeria today”, He said.  “The average Nigerian is living on less than two dollars a day. You are telling a man to spend money on what he cannot afford.”