A faction of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has disavowed a notice announcing a planned shutdown of major cities across the country to protest the recent fuel pump price hike.
The initial notice, released by Okunomo Henry Adewumi, President of the Senate (NANS), stated that the group would shut down cities on September 15, 2024, if the price hike was not reversed.
However, NANS Senate President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, issued a counter-statement dismissing the planned protest as baseless and not reflective of the organization’s position or intentions.
Afeez emphasized that NANS has always been committed to peaceful advocacy and constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders.
The student body urged security agencies to investigate the origin of the misinformation and hold accountable those responsible for spreading falsehood.
It stressed the need to maintain peace and stability in the nation, especially during challenging times, and disassociated itself from any plans or intentions that could lead to civil unrest or disruption of public order.
Afeez stated,
“We understand the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability in our nation… Any actions that could lead to civil unrest or the disruption of public order are not, and will never be, supported by NANS.
” The faction warned the public, media, and stakeholders to disregard the false reports, emphasizing that NANS will not be used as a tool for malicious purposes.
