THE NATIONAL Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened a massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria in protest against the further increase in the price of petrol on Tuesday.
NANS’ threat is contained in a letter of notice to all students on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, and copied Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Chief of Defence Staff, and all state governors, is signed by Okunomo Henry Adewumi, President of NANS’ Senate.
The letter, entitled: “Notification of Massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria,” reads: “We write to notify you of an impending massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria, effective 15th September 2024, in protest of the recent hike in fuel prices and the gross incompetence of the NNPC Director General, [sic] Mele Kyari.
“The incessant increase in fuel prices has brought untold hardship to the masses, and we can no longer stand idly by while our future is mortgaged by the actions of a few. We demand an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Mr. Kyari as the NNPC DG [sic].
“We call on all Nigerian students across the country to wake up to this clarion call, as we will be occupying all major cities on the 15th of September, 2024. 2e shall not be silenced, and we shall not be intimidated. We shall rise in unison to demand a better deal for Nigerian students and the masses.
“We urge you to take necessary measures to maintain law and order during the shutdown, as we assure you that our protest will be peaceful and lawful.”
Meanwhile, the president of NANS, Lucky Emonefe, has called on the federal government to reverse the new petrol pump price, as things are no longer bearable for Nigerians.
Emonefe made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
NAN reports that NNPC Ltd. Retail Management on Tuesday approved upward review of petrol pump price from N568 -N617 per litre to N855 – N897 per litre, depending on location of their stations.
Checks by NAN revealed that the NNPC retail stations adjusted their pumps and totems (price boards), reflecting the new price of N897 as against N617 per lite in the FCT.
The independent marketers had also adjusted their pumps, as they were now selling between N930 and N1,200.
“We appeal to the government to rescind its decision because it will get to a time people can no longer bear the sufferings.
“The national protest that took place in August, we decided not to come out and be part of it, because we hoped that things will get better.
“If things do not get better, we will have no choice but to mobilise our members to join protest, if it erupts,” he said, adding that “government must come out and tell us what is responsible for this recent hike. We need to know.
“If the government cannot help the situation, then we should go back to the subsidy regime.”
The NANS president said the fuel hike would further worsen the high cost of living in the country, if it was not promptly addressed by the government.
