How Nigeria's general strike started

ABUJA  Nigerian unions on Monday ended a week-long nationwide strike which had paralysed Africa's most populous country, after the president agreed to lower petrol prices.
Here is how the strike unfolded in the continent's biggest producer of crude oil:
JANUARY 2012--
- 9: Tens of thousands of people take to the streets on the first day of an indefinite general strike to protest at the doubling of the price of petrol. Unions demand that the government reinstate fuel subsidies, whose suppression on January 1 led to a sharp increase in petrol prices.
At least six people are killed, including two in clashes with the security forces in the northern city of Kano. A police officer is accused of killing one person in Lagos.
- 10: Security forces disperse thousands of protesters in the north and protesters set up roadblocks in Lagos.
- 11: The two unions representing oil workers threaten to disrupt the production of crude oil.
- 12: Union representatives meet President Goodluck Jonathan, the first direct dialogue since the start of the movement.
- 13: Demonstrations continue, including in Lagos, where some 2,000 Muslims observe Friday weekly prayers on the main protest site. Ten thousand other demonstrators shout anti-government slogans. The unions announce that protests will be suspended during the weekend to allow residents to stock up on food and supplies and for negotiations to take place.
Since the start of the strike movement 15 people have been killed in clashes with police.
- 14: Government and unions fail to reach agreement on the price of petrol. Unions blame the government for the failure of the negotiations.
   - 15: In Lagos long queues form in front of petrol stations in several parts of the economic capital.
   Overnight, unions decide to call off street protests due to security concerns, but say the strike will remain in place.
- 16: President Jonathan announces a cut in petrol prices of around 30 percent but says the government will "continue to pursue a full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector".
Security forces occupy main protest sites and later fire tear gas, shoot into the air and use armoured vehicles to disperse protesters in Lagos.
Unions announce they are suspending the strike. Union officials say that even after the decrease the price of petrol remains too high, but are ready to engage in further negotiations with government representatives.