The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced a nationwide protest scheduled for September 15, 2024, to be held across major cities in Nigeria. This protest, themed “Fuel Price Hike: A Threat to Our Future,” is intended to voice their dissatisfaction with the recent increase in fuel prices announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement signed by the NANS National Senate President, Comrade Henry Okunomo. The statement, which was released to the press in Kano, expressed the association’s deep disappointment and concern over the recent hike in fuel prices by the NNPC.
NANS described the price increase as an “egregious act” and issued a clarion call for a nationwide protest to demand an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and a more humane approach to governance. Okunomo emphasized the urgency of their demand, stating, “We demand an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and a more compassionate approach to governance.”
He also called on Nigerian students, civil society organizations, and the general public to join in the peaceful protest. “We urge all Nigerian students, civil society organizations, and the masses to join us in this peaceful demonstration as we demand an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and a more compassionate approach to governance,” he said.
Okunomo stressed that the students would not be deterred by intimidation and would continue to speak out against policies that adversely affect them. He declared, “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.”
He further stated that the latest fuel price increase represents the final straw for NANS, signaling that the NNPC, under the leadership of its Director-General, Mele Kyari, has failed in its fundamental duty to ensure a stable and affordable fuel supply for Nigerians.
According to Okunomo, since Kyari’s appointment, there has been a continuous rise in fuel prices, each increase worsening the hardships faced by the masses. He argued that this pattern reflects Kyari’s “gross incompetence and inability to deliver on his mandate.” Okunomo criticized the NNPC’s operations under Kyari, describing it as a “behemoth of inefficiency” that has perpetuated a cycle of suffering and hopelessness for the Nigerian people.
As a result, NANS is calling for the immediate dismissal of Mr. Mele Kyari as the Director-General of the NNPC. The statement concluded with a strong demand, stating, “His continued stay in office is an affront to the sensibilities of the Nigerian people and a stark reminder of the government’s insensitivity to their plight.”
