Fuel Scarcity: NANS Ready for Dialogue with Tinubu, Engages Dangote, Oil Marketers, and Lokpobiri

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NANS Ready for Dialogue with Tinubu, Engages Dangote, Oil Marketers, and Lokpobiri

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed its readiness to meet with President Bola Tinubu to demand the reversal of the recent increase in petrol prices. This follows the student body’s firm stance on moving ahead with its planned nationwide protest against the fuel price hike.

David Bariereka, Secretary of NANS, revealed during an interview in Port Harcourt that the student body is already engaging with key stakeholders, including Aliko Dangote, oil marketers, and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, to explore solutions that would alleviate the burden on Nigerians.

Despite calls for nationwide protests, scheduled for September 15, 2024, Bariereka urged students to remain patient as negotiations with these stakeholders continue.

Nationwide Protest Planned

The Senate President of NANS, Henry Okuomo, recently emphasized that the union is prepared to hold the government accountable, citing the current hardship faced by Nigerians. Okuomo, speaking on Channels Television, stated, “We are not threatening a strike; we are going to do it. Nigerians are facing serious hardship, and the fuel price hike is worsening the situation.”

He reiterated that the student body, representing over 40 million Nigerian students, is set to take to the streets if the government fails to address the ongoing hardships.

Dialogue Before Action

Bariereka clarified that while the association acknowledges the severity of the situation, it is committed to exhausting all possible avenues of negotiation before resorting to protests. He highlighted NANS’ recent success in advocating against the electricity bill hike for Band A users, leading to the president appointing a committee to explore solar energy for Nigerian universities.

In the meantime, Bariereka urged students to remain calm and await further directives from the NANS national secretariat regarding the next steps in response to the fuel price hike.

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