The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced a nationwide strike for September 15, 2024, in protest against the recent petrol price hike by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The strike is a response to the announcement of a price increase from N617 per litre to N897 per litre, effective September 3.
In a statement titled “Fuel Price Hike: A Threat to Our Future,” NANS National Senate President, Henry Okunomo, expressed the association’s strong dissatisfaction with the price hike, describing it as an “egregious act.” The students are demanding an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and a more compassionate approach to governance.
NANS has called on all students, civil society organizations, and the masses to join the peaceful demonstration, vowing to “rise in unison” to demand a better deal for Nigerian students and the masses. The association has criticized the NNPCL for its “gross incompetence” and “inability to deliver on its mandate,” accusing it of becoming a “behemoth of inefficiency” that perpetuates a cycle of hardship and despair for the Nigerian people.
The strike is a clear indication of the students’ frustration with the government’s policies, which they believe are exacerbating the suffering of the masses. NANS is determined to make its voice heard and push for a more sustainable solution to the country’s fuel crisis.