The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans for a large-scale protest across the country in response to the recent surge in fuel prices and what it describes as the “gross incompetence” of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mele Kyari.
This decision was disclosed in a statement signed by Okunowo Henry Adewunmi, the President of the Senate of NANS, and made available to the press today, Wednesday, September 4.
The statement emphasized the severe hardship and suffering that the fuel price increase has inflicted on Nigerians, urging the government to reverse the policy.
“We call on all Nigerian students across the country to respond to this clarion call as we will be occupying all major cities on September 15, 2024. We shall not be intimidated. We shall rise in unison to demand a better deal for Nigerian students and the masses,” Adewunmi wrote.
On Tuesday, the NNPC raised the pump price of petrol to N897 per liter, up from the previous official price of N617 per liter. This price hike came just days after the national oil company revealed it is under significant financial strain due to a massive debt of $6.8 billion owed to international suppliers.
But in a sudden twist of the narrative, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has firmly refuted rumours suggesting that the association is planning a nationwide shutdown of major cities across the country.
NANS clarified that it neither announced nor endorsed any such protest, labeling the claims as unfounded and baseless.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Senate President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, the association emphasized that these rumours do not represent the official stance or intentions of NANS.
The statement read: “The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has become aware of rumours and misinformation circulating on various platforms, insinuating that NANS is planning a large-scale shutdown of major cities across the country. We wish to categorically state that NANS has not announced or endorsed any such protest. These reports are entirely baseless and do not reflect the position or intentions of our organization.”
NANS reiterated its commitment to peaceful advocacy and constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders, rather than engaging in activities that could disrupt national peace.
“As the representative body for Nigerian students, we are dedicated to peaceful advocacy and constructive dialogue with the appropriate authorities,” the statement continued.
“We recognize the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability in our nation, especially during these challenging times. NANS does not, and will never, support any actions that could lead to civil unrest or the disruption of public order.”
The association urged the public to disregard the claims, emphasizing that those behind the rumors are unidentified individuals with malicious intent.
“We strongly urge the public, the media, and all stakeholders to disregard these false reports,” the statement added.
“The individuals or groups behind these rumors are faceless entities seeking to exploit the name of NANS for their malicious purposes. Their goal is clear: to destabilize the country and create unnecessary tension among citizens. We categorically dissociate ourselves from any such plans or intentions.”
NANS also called on security agencies to investigate the source of the misinformation and to bring those responsible to justice.
“We urge security agencies to act decisively in identifying and apprehending any individuals or groups attempting to use the name of NANS to incite unrest or disrupt the peace of our nation,” the statement concluded.
“We must collectively ensure that the integrity of our democratic processes and the rule of law are upheld at all times.”
NANS reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of Nigerian students through peaceful, lawful, and constructive channels. The association also thanked Nigerian students and the public for their ongoing support and encouraged everyone to remain vigilant against those who seek to manipulate and mislead for selfish gain.
What is even more confusing is that both Okunowo Henry Adewunmi and Akinteye Babatunde claimed to be the senate president of the students body.
