The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has insisted on proceeding with the planned nationwide protest against the increase in petrol prices.
NANS’ Senate President, Henry Okuomo, made this declaration on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s program Sunrise Daily.
According to the Senate President of NANS, “We are not threatening a strike. That is what we are going to do because of the current situation in the country. Nigerians are currently facing a lot. We are facing hardship, and now, the government has increased fuel prices again. This has affected us as students, and as student leaders, we don’t have a choice now but to fight for the people.
“We hold one of the largest stakes in the country, with over 40 million Nigerian students.
“With that, we believe we should make our voices heard at this time to save the Nigerian people from the undue stress and suffering imposed on them by the government.
“We have determined that on the 15th of this month, there will be no turning back. We are hitting the streets hard.
“We are going to demand not only a reduction in fuel prices but also address other issues affecting the nation in general.
“We are going to do it. We will hit the streets if the government does not reverse most of these hardship policies before then.”
The student group had earlier called for the reversal of the petrol price increase and the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.
This comes after the president of the association, Afeez Akinteye, denied that the group was organizing a protest against the increase in petrol prices.
Akinteye had called on security agencies to investigate the source of the misinformation.