The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to launch a nationwide strike on September 15, 2024, in response to the recent hike in petrol prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The decision follows the announcement that the pump price would increase from ₦617 to ₦897 per liter, effective September 3.
In a statement issued by NANS’ National Senate President, Henry Okunomo, titled “Fuel Price Hike: A Threat to Our Future,” the association condemned the price hike, calling it an “egregious act” that threatens the future of Nigerian students. Okunomo emphasized the need for immediate action, urging students, civil society organizations, and the general public to join in a peaceful demonstration demanding a reversal of the fuel price hike and a more compassionate approach to governance.
NANS also criticized the leadership of NNPCL under Mele Kyari, accusing it of gross incompetence and failing to ensure a stable and affordable fuel supply. The association called for the removal of Kyari as Director-General of NNPCL, describing his continued tenure as an affront to the Nigerian people and a symbol of the government’s insensitivity to their struggles.
The planned strike is positioned as a stand against the rising cost of living and the perceived inefficiency within the NNPCL, with NANS vowing not to be silenced or intimidated in their fight for a better future for Nigerian students and the broader populace.
