Nationwide Protest Date Announced Amid Fuel Price Hike Under Tinubu's Govt, Details Emerge

• The National Association of Nigerian Students has insisted on going ahead with the planned nationwide protest against the increase in fuel price
• Henry Okuomo, NANS' Senate president, stated this on Friday, September 6, in an interview seen by Legit.ng
• Okuomo said the union was capable of holding the government to account as it was not happy with the current economic hardship in the country under the Bola Tinubu administration

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs.

FCT, Abuja - The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday, September 6, restated its readiness to go ahead with the planned nationwide protest over the fuel price hike.

The pump price was recently increased to N855, N1,000, and higher per litre, with the prices varying across the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) stations and other locations across the country.

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NANS insists on nationwide protest Sept 15

Speaking on Channels TV, Henry Okuomo, NANS' Senate president, announced that the group would stage a national protest on Sunday, September 15.

Okuomo said:

“We are not threatening a strike. That is what we are going to do because of the current situation of the country.

"Nigerians are currently facing a lot. We are facing hardship, and now, the government has increased fuel prices again. This has affected us as students. And as student leaders, we don’t have a choice now but to fight for the people.

“We are occupying one of the largest stakes in the country, having over 40 million Nigerian students in the country.

“We have determined that on the 15th of this month (September), no going back. We are hitting the street hard."

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Read more on fuel price hike in Nigeria

• Fuel scarcities, price hike deepen Nigerian frustrations
• NNPCL speaks on new fuel prices at filling stations, presidency explains decision
• Presidency speaks on petrol price increase, subsidy payment after Dangote fuel

Fuel price hike: Nigerians displeased

Families and operators of businesses in the country have continued to decry the recent hike in petrol prices as they grapple with the escalating cost of living amid widespread discontent in the country.

The 50 percent increase in petrol price has rippled through the economy, driving up prices of essential goods and services, and exacerbating financial hardships for many.

Speaking with Legit.ng, Biodun Gafar, a resident of Ijaiye in Lagos state, described the situation as "abnormal".

He said:

"This current fuel hike in price is an abnormal situation but in Nigeria, it is 'suffering and smiling'.

"Petroleum is the only resource that joins us—rich and poor. Since this current government removed fuel subsidy, we the masses have not seen any benefit. If things continue like this, people might react violently."

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Similarly, Kogi-based Kole Shittu lamented that a reform which 'annihilates and impoverishes the generality of the people' is not a reform.

Shittu told Legit.ng:

"A true government would have put in place a proper plan to buffer the hardship which the hike will pose on citizens. All life here in the country is predicated on petrol. Even with very limited resources available to citizens, we buy fuel to power generators for nearly everything - electricity is the backup rather than be the main source of power.

"Nigerians are suffering and the environment in which we survive is so harsh. Reform is for the people and not the other way around."

NANS denies nationwide shutdown plans

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a factional group of NANS dismissed speculations about organising a nationwide shutdown of major cities.

NANS clarified that it neither announced nor supported any such protest, calling the allegations baseless.

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In a statement released on Tuesday, September 3, the association’s factional senate president, Akinteye Babatunde, emphasised that these claims do not align with the organisation's stance or intentions.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng