Petrol prices more than double after government scraps popular policy many economists saw as wasteful and open to corruption
Nigerian motorists and unions have vented their anger after fuel prices more than doubled because of the removal of government subsidies.
Opposition leaders, unionists and local rights groups have condemned the move by the state's fuel regulator, which they say will inflate prices in a country already too expensive for the majority of its citizens living on less than £1.30 a day.
Many fuel stations in the capital, Abuja, and the main commercial city, Lagos, were shut on Monday while they adjusted their prices. Those that were open were jammed with queues and selling at prices of up to 150 naira (60p) a litre, up from a fixed price of 60 naira before.
"This is a bad new year present from the government," said David Akpe, a motorist at the pumps in Abuja, as a queue of about 30 cars formed behind him. "What next?"
The measure risks bringing public wrath down on President Goodluck Jonathan, who says it is needed to reform the economy.
"Don't push us to the street; for we went to the street to make you president and would not like to go to the street to remove you as president!" the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), an opposition umbrella group, warned.
Many politicians are opposed to the move, and a spokesman for the Senate said that as far as it was concerned the debate was still continuing.
Trades unions called on Sunday for mass action, with a repeat of the strikes and street protests that thwarted previous attempts to end subsidies. .
Workers in the petroleum sector also condemned the move. "The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria rejects [it] as totally unacceptable and a crass display of bad faith," they said in a statement. "We therefore urge all Nigerians to … begin immediate mobilisation for the struggle ahead."
The subsidies were left out of the 2012 budget, which has yet to be voted on by both houses.
"While it is true that there was no provision for subsidy in the 2012 budget proposal, the Senate … is yet to reach a consensus on the matter," Abaribe said. Such a decision would "take cognisance of the general mood", he added.
Many economists say the fuel subsidies were hugely corrupt, wasteful and bled money from the treasury into the pockets of rich fuel importers. Some Nigerians see sense in ending them. "The people against the subsidy removal are the people who have been milking Nigeria," said retired banker Peter Madu. "The labour unions are just being selfish."
But the policy remains a political bombshell, as most Nigerians see the subsidies as the only benefit they derive from living in an oil-rich country.
Nigeria produces more than 2m barrels of crude oil a day, but a lack of investment in refineries and infrastructure means almost all of it is exported, while refined products such as gasoline have to be imported at great cost.
Going ahead with the plan will save the treasury over 1tn naira in 2012, according to the government, which was heavily criticised by the International Monetary Fund for wasteful use of public funds.