The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a warning that it will occupy major cities across the country on September 15 if the recent hike in fuel prices is not reversed by then.
Henry Okuomo, the Senate President of NANS, made this announcement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday. He emphasized the need for urgent action to alleviate the severe hardships currently faced by millions of Nigerians due to the recent surge in fuel prices.
The fuel price hike, which saw the pump price rise from N568 per litre to N897 amid worsening fuel scarcity, has sparked widespread outrage. Okuomo expressed the frustration felt by students, stating, “We are not threatening a strike; we are going to take action because of the dire situation in the country. Nigerians are facing immense hardship, and as student leaders, we must fight for the people.”
Okuomo highlighted the significant influence of NANS, representing over 40 million Nigerian students. “We believe it’s time to make our voices heard and save Nigerians from this undue stress and suffering inflicted by the government,” he stated. “On the 15th of this month, we will take to the streets if the government does not reverse these policies causing hardship.”
He added that the protest is not only about the fuel price increase but also about other issues affecting the nation. Okuomo stressed that the planned protest would be a legitimate and well-organized action by Nigerian students, recognized under the law.
Okuomo’s remarks followed a clarification issued after a factional Senate President of NANS, Babatunde Akinteye, denied that the group was organizing a protest. Akinteye called on security agencies to investigate the source of the misinformation and warned against using NANS’ name to incite unrest.
Okuomo reaffirmed his position as the “authentic” Senate President of NANS, asserting that the group remains “one indivisible and indissoluble entity.”