A faction of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has disowned a statement announcing a planned nationwide protest against the recent fuel pump price hike. The statement, which was released earlier on Wednesday, claimed that NANS would shut down major cities across the country on September 15, 2024, if the price hike is not reversed.
However, in a swift response, the NANS Senate President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, described the reports as “baseless” and “entirely false.” He emphasized that NANS has not announced or endorsed any such protest.
“The leadership of NANS has been made aware of rumours and misinformation circulating across various platforms, suggesting that NANS is planning a massive shutdown of major cities across the country. We wish to categorically state that NANS has not announced or endorsed any such protest. These reports are entirely baseless and do not reflect the position or intentions of our organization,” Afeez said.
Afeez urged security agencies to investigate the origin of the misinformation and hold those responsible accountable. He stressed that the use of NANS’ name to propagate dangerous and unfounded claims is a threat to national security and a disservice to Nigerian students.
“As the umbrella body representing the interests of Nigerian students, we have always been committed to peaceful advocacy and constructive engagement with relevant stakeholders. We understand the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability in our nation, especially during these challenging times. Any actions that could lead to civil unrest or the disruption of public order are not, and will never be, supported by NANS,” he added.
Afeez also warned that the individuals or groups behind the rumors are “faceless entities” seeking to exploit NANS’ name for malicious purposes.
“The individuals or groups behind these rumours are faceless entities who seek to exploit the name of NANS for their own malicious purposes. Their aim is clear: to destabilize the country and create unnecessary tension among citizens. We categorically disassociate ourselves from any such plans or intentions. We strongly urge the public, the media, and all stakeholders to disregard these false reports.”