We’re not part of planned protest, NANS declares

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Saturday declared that Nigerian students will not join the planned August 1, nationwide protest.

NANS noted that student will not be part of those who want to cause chaos and disrupted peaceful atmosphere of the country.

Speaking in Ibadan at the 84th NANS National Senate Sitting, the NANS Senate President, Com. Akinteye Babatunde said Nigerian students will suffer most in case the protest leads to violence because schools will be shut and this will lead elongation of time Nigerian students will spend in their respective schools.

He said, “We don’t know the identity of those calling for the protest, our demands and aspiration can be channel through dialogue instead of protest.

“Despite not joining the protest, yet, we are hungry, FG should look into the issue of hunger in the land, education should be given priority.”

He said the protests lacked clear leadership and specific demands, and posed significant risk to the nation if citizens fail to embrace caution in handling social issues, adding that Nigerians must recognize that such actions could create devastating effects on our economy and the very social fabric of our identity as Nigerians.

“While the right to protest is enshrined in our constitution and is a vital aspect of democratic expression, we must also consider the potential consequences of unchecked and faceless demonstrations.

“Reflecting on the past, the October 20 2020 incident, which was a product of the EndSARS protest, brought devastating consequences on our nation, some of the outcomes of which we have not recovered.

“As the largest and most influential student/ youth organization in Nigeria and Africa, we have conducted extensive consultations and have come to a critical decision: we will not support or participate in any protest that could lead to anarchy, particularly the planned “Days of Rage” protest.

“Therefore, we encourage all Nigerian students to be weary of engaging in violent protests to prevent some of the dreadful repercussions that could accompany such acts, as we have recently witnessed in Kenya.

“This resolution comes after robust deliberations of the feedback of our wide consultations. The leadership of NANS during its 84th National Senate Sitting fully supports and ratified this decision. We believe that while the right to protest is fundamental, the potential consequences of unchecked and faceless demonstrations could be devastating, leading to violence, economic disruption, and social instability.

“While we are not oblivious to the current economic hardship in the country, it is crucial to highlight some of the efforts and achievements of the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in ameliorating the living conditions of Nigerians.

“While emphasizing these achievements is not an attempt to be partisan or take sides with the current administration, we would like to clarify that the current economic challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria, but a global phenomenon.

“The current economic situation of our beloved country should not blur our recognition of some of the indelible imprints of the current administration, evident in the activities of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, among others.

“The achievements and efforts of these institutions seek to turn the tides of our nation and position it on the right path to prosperity. We would like to highlight how some of these achievements are creating the path of national progress.”