•Says: ‘We are capable of holding govt to ransom’

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has insisted on going ahead with the planned nationwide protest against the increase in petrol price.

The Senate President of the NANS, Henry Okuomo stated this on Friday as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

According to him, the union is capable of holding the government accountable as it was not happy with the current hardship situation in the country.

He said, “We are not threatening a strike. That is what we are going to do because of the current situation of 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 are occupying one of the largest stakes in the country, having over 40 million Nigerian students in the country.

“With that, we think we should make our voice loud at this time to save the Nigerian people from this undue stress and suffering being put upon them by the government.

“We have determined that on the 15th of this month, no going back. We are hitting the street hard.

‘We are going to demand not only for a reduction in fuel price but for other things that are affecting the nation in general.

‘We are going to do it. We will hit the streets if the government does not reverse most of the hardship policies before then.”

The group earlier called for the reversal of the petrol price and the removal of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.

The clarification comes after a factional Senate President of the association, Babatunde Akinteye denied that the group was organising a protest against the increase in petrol price.

Akinteye had called on security agencies to investigate the source of the misinformation.

He said, “We strongly urge the public, the media, and all stakeholders to disregard these false reports. The individuals or groups behind these rumours are faceless entities who seek to exploit the name of NANS for their malicious purposes.

“They aim to destabilise the country and create unnecessary tension among citizens. We categorically disassociate ourselves from any such plans or intentions.

“We hereby call on the security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the origin of this misinformation. Those responsible for spreading these falsehoods must be identified and held accountable.

“The use of the NANS name to propagate such dangerous and unfounded claims is not only a threat to national security but also a grave disservice to the millions of students who genuinely seek positive change through legitimate means.

“Furthermore, we urge security agencies to act decisively in apprehending any individuals or groups attempting to use the name of NANS to incite unrest or disrupt the peace of our nation. We must collectively ensure that the integrity of our democratic processes and the rule of law are upheld at all times.

“NANS remains steadfast in its mission to advocate for the rights and welfare of Nigerian students. We will continue to pursue this mission through peaceful, lawful, and constructive channels. Let it be known that NANS stands firmly for peace, progress, and the unity of our nation.” (Channels TV: Text, Excluding Headline)

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