The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced a nationwide strike set to begin on September 15, 2024.
This move comes in response to the recent petrol price increase by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which saw prices soar from ₦617 to ₦897 per litre, effective September 3.
The announcement was made by NANS’ national senate president, Henry Okunomo, who conveyed the association’s deep dissatisfaction in a statement titled “Fuel Price Hike: A Threat to Our Future.” Okunomo described the price hike as an “egregious act,” warranting immediate and decisive action from the student body.
NANS is demanding an “immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and a more compassionate approach to governance.” The association has called upon students, civil society organizations, and the general public to join in what is promised to be a peaceful demonstration.
“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,” the statement declared, emphasizing their commitment to the cause.
Criticism was particularly directed at the NNPCL’s leadership under Mele Kyari. NANS accused the company of failing to provide a stable and affordable fuel supply, labeling the recent price increase as “the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back.” The association described the NNPCL as a “behemoth of inefficiency, perpetuating a cycle of hardship and despair for the Nigerian people.”
In addition to demanding a price rollback, NANS is also calling for the removal of Mele Kyari as director-general of the NNPCL. They argue that 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.”