September 4, 2024— The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to initiate a nationwide strike on September 15, 2024, in response to the recent increase in petrol prices. This decision follows the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) hike from ₦617 to ₦897 per litre, effective September 3.
NANS National Senate President, Henry Okunomo, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the price increase, calling it an “egregious act” and a serious threat to students’ futures. In a statement titled “Fuel Price Hike: A Threat to Our Future,” Okunomo urged students, civil society organizations, and the public to join in a peaceful demonstration demanding an immediate reversal of the hike and a more compassionate governance approach.
The association criticized NNPCL’s leadership under Mele Kyari for failing to ensure a stable fuel supply and termed the price hike as indicative of “gross incompetence.” NANS also called for Kyari’s removal, stating that his continued leadership reflects poorly on the government’s responsiveness to public hardship.
The students’ planned strike reflects growing frustration with rising living costs and perceived government insensitivity to the economic struggles of Nigerians.
