Fuel Price Hike: NANS Divided Over Planned Nationwide Protest, Issue Counter Directive

By Ayodele Oni

The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has issued a notification of a planned massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria, effective from September 15, 2024.

The students body said the protest is in response to the recent fuel price hike and the perceived incompetence of the NNPC Director General, Mele Kyari.

The union, in a statement on Wednesday, equally demanded an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Kyari as the NNPC DG.

The notice was signed by Okunomo Henry Adewumi, President of the Senate (NANS).

In another counter statement, signed by NANS Senate president, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, stated that the leadership of NANs was not aware of any planned nationwide protest.

Afeez statement reads “The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has denounced claims that it is planning a massive shutdown of major cities across the nation through protest.

“In a statement, NANS Senate president, Comr Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, noted that the student association did not announce or endorse such, hence, rumours circulating to that effect are baseless and do not reflect the position or intentions of NANS.

“It called on security agencies to act decisively in apprehending any individuals or groups attempting to use the name of NANS to incite unrest or disrupt the peace of the nation.”

According to the notice, issued by NANs president Okunomo, the students plan to occupy all major cities in the country on September 15, 2024.

The notice assured that the protest will be peaceful and lawful.

“We write to notify you of an impending massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria, effective 15th September 2024, in protest of the recent hike in fuel prices and the gross incompetence of the NPC Director General, Mele Kyari.

“The incessant increase in fuel prices has brought untold hardship to the masses, and we can no longer stand idly by while our future is mortgaged by the actions of a few.

“We demand an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Mr. Kyari as the NNPC DG.

“We call on all Nigerian students across the country to wake up to this clarion call, as we will be occupying all major cities on the 15th of September, 2024.

“We shall not be silenced, and we shall not be intimidated. We shall rise in unison to demand a better deal for Nigerian students and the masses.

“We urge you to take necessary measures to maintain law and order during the shutdown, as we assure you that our protest will be peaceful and lawful.”