NANS declares nationwide protest over fuel price hike

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced a massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria, effective September 15, 2024, in response to the recent fuel price hike and what it calls the incompetence of NNPC Group Managing Director General Mele Kyari.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited raised petrol prices at its filling stations in Lagos to as high as N855 per liter.

This sharp increase, observed on Tuesday, has seen some NNPC outlets selling fuel between N865 and N897 per liter in Lagos, marking a significant jump from the previous price of N568 per liter.

The scarcity has caused widespread disruption, with motorists enduring long waits at the few stations that have fuel available.

This price hike follows NNPC’s recent admission of its financial difficulties, primarily due to a staggering $6 billion debt owed to international oil traders.

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The union is demanding an immediate reversal of the fuel price increase and the removal of Kyari from his position.

The protest notice, signed by NANS Senate President Okunomo Henry Adewumi, states that Nigerian students plan to occupy major cities across the country starting on September 15, 2024. The notice emphasized that the protests will be peaceful and lawful.

“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 statement reads.

NANS highlighted the hardship caused by the repeated fuel price increases and urged students nationwide to join the protest.

The union assured that while the protest aims to demand better conditions for students and the masses, it will remain peaceful and lawful, calling on authorities to take measures to maintain order during the shutdown.