The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced a nationwide strike, set to commence on September 15, 2024, in response to the latest petrol price hike implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The price per litre has surged from ₦617 to ₦897, effective September 3, sparking widespread discontent among students and the general populace.
In a strongly worded statement, NANS Senate President Henry Okunomo condemned the price increase as a “blatant disregard for the welfare of Nigerians,” characterising it as a direct threat to the future of the nation’s youth.
The students’ body, in a statement titled “Fuel Price Hike: A Threat to Our Future,” has called for mass participation in peaceful protests aimed at reversing the hike and advocating for a more humane approach to governance.
Okunomo’s statement reflects a growing frustration with the NNPCL’s handling of the nation’s fuel supply, accusing the corporation of gross incompetence and demanding the immediate removal of its Director-General, Mele Kyari. NANS asserts that Kyari’s leadership has only exacerbated the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, turning the NNPCL into a symbol of inefficiency and public discontent.
As the planned strike looms, NANS has called on civil society organizations and the general public to join in their demand for a better deal for all Nigerians, emphasizing that their voices will not be silenced until significant changes are made.
