Security Operatives Deployed as Students Stage Protest in Abuja Airport, Kaduna Highway Over ASUU Strike
- After protesting at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, students of tertiary institutions are set to lay siege in Abuja and Kaduna
- The students have announced that they would be blocking access to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Wednesday, September 21
- According to the student, the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway will also be blocked to showcase their grievance over the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities strike
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Students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will lay siege on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja and the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.
The Punch reports that the action by the students is aimed at making their grievance on the seven-month-long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities public.
Source: UGC
Since February 14, when ASUU commenced its strike action, students of various tertiary institutions have remained at home as the Federal Government and the union battle on their previous agreements.
The students had also engaged in similar activity in Lagos, blocking the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
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However, speaking on the incident the chairman of the NANS National Task Force, ‘EndASUUstrike,’ Olumide Ojo, said that an initially planned protest at the Apapa port was stepped down.
According to Ojo, the protest in Apapa did not take place as planned to allow the team re-strategise and plan for an impactful lockdown on Wednesday.
His words:
“We decided to use today (Tuesday) to appraise our protest on Monday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. By tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, we will be grounding the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja and Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.
“We will also be at Iwo Road, Ibadan where we will hold a press conference. It will be a simultaneous action. On Thursday, our colleagues in the South-South and South East will mobilise for a showdown too.”
Kaduna government FAAN react
Reacting to the planned protest by the students, the Kaduna state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan warned against moves to block the Kaduna-Abuja Road.
Stating that the government was not stopping students from using their rights to freedom of expression, Aruwan warned that safety must be a priority in conducting such a protest.
He said:
“The danger of barricading a strategic route like the Kaduna-Abuja Road is better appreciated within the context of ongoing security operations covering the route, and other areas of interest. Citizens are therefore strongly advised against participating in such processions.”
But for the general manager, Corporate Affairs of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, security operatives have been deployed to Abuja airport.
She said:
“All I can say is that we have security agencies at the airport. Nobody will open his or her eyes and allow someone to put their hands in the eyes."
After blocking Lagos Airport, Nigerian students move to seal biggest port, give reason
Nigerian students had earlier planned to block the Apapa Port in protest of the prolonged Academic Staff Union of Universities strike action.
The plan by the students of Nigeria's tertiary institutions was made known by the southwest coordinator for the National Association of Nigerian Students, Adegboye Olatunji.
Olatunji said the move to lay siege on government facilities is aimed at pushing the FG to re-strategise and bring an end to the ongoing ASUU strike.
Strike: ASUU issues strong warning to universities resuming, lays heavy allegation on IMSU, other institutions
The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities had earlier cautioned tertiary institution authorities to quit deceiving students over fake resumptions.
The call was made by the vice president of ASUU, Chris Piwuna, on Monday, September 19, after the spokesperson for IMSU announced a resumption date for the institution.
Piwuna said it has become obvious that some staff of the institutions who are not ASUU members tend to take laws into their own hands.
Source: Legit.ng
