The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a stern warning to the federal government, threatening to stage mass protests across major cities in Nigeria on September 15 if the recent fuel price hike is not reversed.
Henry Okuomo, the Senate President of NANS, made the declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Friday.
This announcement comes after Babatunde Akinteye, a factional Senate President of NANS, distanced the association from any planned protest, calling for an investigation into what he termed “misinformation.” Akinteye’s statement read, in part:
“We urge security agencies to thoroughly investigate the origin of this misinformation. Those responsible for spreading these falsehoods must be identified and held accountable. The use of NANS’ name to propagate such dangerous and unfounded claims is a threat to national security and a grave disservice to millions of students who genuinely seek positive change through legitimate means.”
He further called for decisive action against individuals or groups attempting to exploit NANS’ name to incite unrest or disrupt peace.
However, Okuomo, who insists he is the legitimate Senate President of NANS, dismissed Akinteye’s claims, reaffirming the association’s unity as an “indivisible and indissoluble entity.” He emphasized that the organization has no choice but to take action in light of the extreme hardship Nigerians, especially students, are currently facing due to the fuel price hike.
“We are not merely threatening; this is what we are going to do. Nigerians are facing unbearable hardship, and the recent increase in fuel prices has worsened the situation for students. As leaders, it is our duty to fight for the people,” Okuomo stated.
He highlighted the vast influence NANS wields, representing over 40 million students nationwide, and stressed that the association’s voice must be heard at this critical moment to alleviate the suffering caused by the government’s policies.
Okuomo declared: “We have set September 15 as the deadline. If the government does not reverse the fuel price increase and address other pressing national issues, we will take to the streets. We are prepared to demand not only a reduction in fuel prices but also a reversal of other policies that are causing widespread hardship.”
He added that the fuel crisis has severely impacted daily life on many campuses, where shuttle services have ground to a halt due to fuel scarcity and long queues at filling stations. “Everything has been paralyzed. Nothing is working in the country at the moment, and we cannot continue to endure this,” Okuomo lamented.
The planned nationwide protest, he stressed, will proceed if the government fails to address NANS’ demands by the specified date. Okuomo emphasized that this is not a protest driven by unknown elements but a legitimate action spearheaded by a legally recognized student body.
“This will not be business as usual. We are ready, and we have mobilized students across the country. Even students from private universities are welcome to join. We will take to the streets on September 15 if the government does not change course,” Okuomo concluded.
