The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a notification of a planned massive shutdown of major cities across Nigeria, set to begin on September 15, 2024.
The student body stated that the protest is in response to the recent fuel price hike and what it describes as the perceived incompetence of the Director General of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari.
In their statement, NANS demanded an immediate reversal of the fuel price increase and called for the removal of Mele Kyari from his position as NNPC Director General.
The notice, signed by Okunomo Henry Adewumi, President of the Senate (NANS), outlined the students’ plan to occupy major cities nationwide starting September 15, 2024. The notice emphasized that the protest will be conducted peacefully and within the bounds of the law.
“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 NPC Director General, 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.
“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. We 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,” the notice read