Petrol Price Hike: NANS Ready To Meet Tinubu, Dialogues With Dangote, Oil Marketers, Lokpobiri
In response to the recent hike in the price of Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS), more commonly known as petrol, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has stated that its leadership is prepared to meet with President Bola Tinubu if necessary.
This was disclosed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by David Bariereka, the secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
He claims that in an effort to find a solution that would ease the public’s burden, the student body is now meeting with influential figures in the petroleum industry, such as oil marketers, industrialist Aliko Dangote, and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil).
This comes after student leaders insisted on carrying out the statewide demonstration against the fuel price hike.
The group has already scheduled the nationwide strike for September 15, 2024.
Henry Okuomo, president of the NANS Senate, expressed dissatisfaction with the present economic difficulties in the country and claimed that the union could call the government to account during his appearance last Friday on the Sunrise Daily, a program on Channels Television.
A strike is not being threatened, he stated. The state of the country necessitates this course of action. At the moment, Nigerians are dealing with a lot. The government has imposed yet another fuel price hike on top of our already heavy financial burden. We, the pupils, have been impacted by this. Furthermore, we student leaders must now stand up for the masses.
Having more than 40 million Nigerian students in the country gives us a significant stake.
Considering this, we believe it is crucial to speak out now in order to alleviate the unnecessary hardships endured by the Nigerian people at the hands of the government.
As of this month’s 15th, there will be no turning back. The street is going to be hit hard by us.
Among other factors that are impacting the country as a whole, we will be demanding a decrease in the price of fuel.
We will go ahead and do it. Before that, we will take to the streets if the government does not undo most of the harsh programs.
Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) was previously demanded to step down by the group.
Nevertheless, there was a recent turn of events when Bariereka advised students nationwide to disregard demands for a nationwide demonstration.
The group is not currently organising a protest, he added.
Nevertheless, Bariereka did recognise the increasing difficulties that Nigerians are experiencing as a result of the price hike.
He stressed that the NANS leadership will try every possible way to engage with the appropriate authorities and negotiate a solution before turning to protests.
Fair treatment of students from Nigeria is an issue that he emphasised the association’s ongoing dedication to addressing.
He went on to say that the president appointed a team to investigate solar energy potential in Nigerian colleges after their recent agitation against Band A customers’ power bill hikes succeeded.
Bariereka told students in Nigeria to keep their cool and wait for the NANS national secretariat to give them clear instructions on what to do about the fuel price hike.