On July 4, 2008, hundreds of ex-Nigerian soldiers who served with the UN Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, took to the streets over unpaid allowances.
The veterans clad in mufti, barricaded major roads from dawn, burning tyres and chanting against military authorities.
According to protesters, they were part of Nigeria’s contingent deployed to Liberia between 2003 and 2007. They alleged the Federal Government was holding back peacekeeping allowances, with some owed for more than 18 months.
“We risked our lives in Liberia for this country and the UN,” said one veteran who gave his name only as Sergeant Tunde. “Since we returned, the authorities have kept us waiting. We have families to feed. Enough is enough.”
Armed police and soldiers were later deployed. After a tense standoff, senior officers addressed the crowd, appealed for calm, and promised to forward their demands to the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.
A spokesman for the 32 Artillery Brigade confirmed “dialogue is ongoing to resolve the matter peacefully,” but gave no further details.
July 4: NUPENG Strike Paralyzes Lagos, Southwest Over June 12 Crisis
On July 4, 1994, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and allied labour unions shut down fuel supplies across Lagos and the Southwest.
The strike was part of the nationwide protests demanding that the military government of Gen. Sani Abacha recognize Chief M.K.O. Abiola as winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and hand over power.
Fuel stations closed, depots were locked, and tanker movement stopped. Banks, markets, and transport hubs recorded sharp drops in activity as supply chains seized up.
Union leaders vowed the action would continue “until democracy is restored.” The Abacha government made no concessions at the time.
