The National Association of Nigerian Students, South-West Zone, on Tuesday, decried the effect of the hike in fuel pump prices on Nigerians, particularly students in South West Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the zone’s coordinator, deputy coordinator, and public relations officer (respectively, Emmanuel Olatunji, Alao John, and Awoyinfa Opeoluwa), the student body claimed that the economy of the nation had been in a state of uncertainty and that it was unclear what would happen next.
“With so much displeasure, we critically stand against the increase in fuel pump price by all fuel marketers across boards. It has gotten to the peak where we resort to our ‘last C of Auta’ which is confrontation.
“The leadership of NANS, South-West, hereby declares massive protest against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.
“As much as we welcome the dialogue before protest which authenticates our first and second Cs of Aluta, we insist that our action to occupy fuel outlets by shutting down all petroleum stations in the South-West region is in tandem with the show of democracy and a way to say no to concurrent hardship on Nigerians and Nigerian students in particular,” the statement partly bread.
NANS added that timetable of protests across southwestern states (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti) would be released “in less than 48 hours in our next press release.”
“Any attack on our protest would be a contravention and an assault on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 1981 – a treaty-turned-Act, which does not accommodate derogation in any form and Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which provides for Right to Freedom of Association and Assembly,” the students concluded.
