The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has declared a nationwide protest over the recent increase in fuel price.
The student body in a notification issued on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, said the massive shutdown across all Nigeria cities will be effective from September 15, 2024.
According to NANS, the protest is in response to the recent fuel price hike and the perceived incompetence of the NNPC Director General, Mele Kyari.
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The student union demands an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Mr. Male Kyari as the NNPC Director General.
The notice was signed by Okunomo Henry Adewumi, President of the Senate (NANS).
According to the notice, 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.
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“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,” the notice read.
On Tuesday, amid the lingering fuel scarcity in the country, the NNPCL increased the pump price of petrol from ₦568 to ₦855, ₦897 (depending on the location per litre).
The latest hike is the third time in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
After announcing the removal of the subsidy in 2023, the fuel price was hiked by 282.74% from N195 to N557. A few months later, it increased by 110.77% from N557 to N617.
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Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on Tuesday demanded an immediate reversal of the hike in fuel price announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), saying the hike has worsened the misery of Nigerians.
Condemning the move in a statement, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accused the Federal Government of betraying labour movement.
Ajaero said, “We demand the immediate reversal of the latest increase in the pump of PMS across the country, release of all those incarcerated or being prosecuted on the assumption of having participated in the recent protests.
“Halt the indiscriminate arrest and detention of citizens on trumped up charges, reversal of the 250% tariff hike in electricity, stop to the hijack of the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“End to policies that engender hunger and insecurity, Halt to government’s culture of terror, fear and lying. We are guided by our belief in our country and the need to secure and sustain its sovereignty, integrity, and welfare of the people.”
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