ABUJA - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday announced a sizable cut in the petrol price in a bid to prevent a paralyzing general strike from continuing into the second week.

In a televised speech in the morning, Jonathan said the domestic fuel price would be reduced to 97 naira ($0.64) per liter.

The government stopped the fuel subsidies on January 1, saying the funds would be spent on refineries and infrastructure instead. Shortly afterwards, the petrol prices skyrocketed from 65 naira ($0.41) per liter to as much as 200 naira (1.25 dollars) per liter.

The removal of fuel subsidies triggered protests by workers' unions in several cities. Mass strikes and protests are being called for.

The Nigerian Labor Congress responded with a five-working-day nationwide strike, although a court ruled out the union's right to strike over fuel taxes or any other price increases for that matter.

Nigeria's two oil unions, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, have already decided to join the action.

Strikes called for by the unions have paralyzed economic activities in the West African country.