The Motor Transport Union (MTU); whether union members were involved in a demonstration on 20 February 2001 in Lagos and, if so, details of the demonstration, including whether members were arrested [NGA41126.E]

Reference to the Motor Transport Union (MTU) could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, reports of threats by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to strike in major cities throughout Nigeria at the end of February 2001 were found among sources consulted (PANA 2 Feb. 2001; Vanguard 2 Feb. 2001; This Day Online 2 Feb. 2001). According This Day Online, NURTW president Gidado Hamman issued on 1 February 2001 a "28-day ultimatum to the Federal Government within which to normalise the supply of petroleum products all over the country or risk the withdrawal of [its] members' vehicles from the roads indefinitely" (ibid.). However, this strike by the NURTW was reportedly cancelled when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) established a panel to ensure the adequate supply of fuel within the country by mid-March (IHRHL 23 Feb. 2001).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL). 23 February 2001. "Panel to Ensure Fuel Supply as NURTW Drops Strike Threats." http://www.kabissa.org/lists/ihrhl-l/0013.html [Accessed 17 Feb. 2003]

PanAfrican News Agency (PANA) [Lagos]. 2 February 2001. "Transporters Threaten Strike Over Fuel Crisis." (Global News Wire-Africa News Service/NEXIS)

This Day Online. 2 February 2001. "NURTW Threatens Strike Over Fuel Scarcity." http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2001/02/02/20010202news23.html [Accessed 17 Feb. 2003]

Vanguard. 2 February 2001. "NURTW Gives One-Month Ultimatum to FG on Fuel Scarcity." (Global News Wire-Africa News Service/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted


IRB Databases

NEXIS

One oral source was unable to provide information on the above-mentioned topic.

Internet sites, including:

Africa Confidential

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

Amnesty International (AI)

BBC Africa

East African Standard

The Guardian [Lagos]

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

International Labour Organization (ILO)

New Nigerian

Newswatch Nigeria

Nigeria Daily

World News Connection (WNC)

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