The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has raised the price of gasoline and has set September 15, 2024, as the date for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to go on a statewide strike. Henry Okunomo, the president of NANS’ national senate, made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday in response to the news that the price would increase from ₦617 to ₦897 per liter starting on September 3.
In response to the recent increase in fuel prices, the Nigerian National Students’ Association has voiced its displeasure and called for a nonviolent protest against the “egregious act.” The association is calling for a swift cancellation of the hike and a more humane method of governing, and it has invited students, civil society organizations, and the general public to participate in the protest. NANS stressed that the NNPCL, led by Mele Kyari, had failed in its responsibility to guarantee a steady and reasonably priced fuel supply and pledged not to be bullied or silenced. The credibility of the NNPCL and its capacity to fulfill its mandate are both severely damaged by the most recent increase in fuel prices.
The NNPC “has become a behemoth of inefficiency, perpetuating a cycle of hardship and despair for the Nigerian people,” according to the pupils.
As a result, NANS called for Mr. Kyari’s dismissal from his position as NNPCL director general.
It stated that Mr. Kyari’s “continued stay in office is a stark reminder of the government’s insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people and an affront to their sensibilities.”