- NANS Divided Over Threat To Shut Down Nigeria
BY MICHAEL IKEOGWU(with Agency Reports)
Commercial tricycle riders, yesterday, in Warri, Delta State, took to the streets protesting the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, disrupting business activities and vehicular movements in the oil rich city.
The peaceful protesters said they were forced to take to the streets to press home their disaffection over the alleged increase in the price of fuel because of the attendant effect it will have on their businesses and their family lives
The protesters blocked major junctions, including the popular Deco Road Junction, Firstt-Marine Gate Junction and Hausa Quarters in Igbudu community, all in Warri metropolis causing significant disruption to both vehicular movement and local business activities.
The demonstration, which began in the early hours, saw the protesters registering their displeasure by chanting songs that depict rejection of any increment.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, a tricycle rider, Mr. Jolomi Ayenuwa said: “We are protesting against the high cost of fuel, as it concerns us and it’s affecting us as tricycle riders and the good citizens of this country. We are struggling to make ends meet as fuel prices continue to rise. The increase is unsustainable for us.
“Because what affects us the Tricycle riders affects the masses also. As tricycle riders, we cannot buy fuel at the rate of N1,300, N1,400, or at the rate of N1,500 naira and carry you the passenger at the rate of N100 or N200. If I ask a passenger to pay N500 a drop from popular Enerhen junction to Estate, he or she will not agree with me to pay. Because am not working as a company but am just trying to make ends meet with this little struggle.
“After buying the fuel high, we pay N250 community fee daily, and also pay N50 for every loading. VIO will collect their money from us, police are collecting N100 every day for morning and evening, ticket people will collect their money from us after buying fuel high.
“To feed our family is not easy, and school fees is coming, what we want is this, let them bring down the fuel price for us as it used to be before now (N200 Naira or N180”. Because this thing is affecting everywhere and it’s killing the masses. We cannot close our mouth again that is why we are crying out. And nobody will shut us down, because this is our right.
“We are not protesting because of anybody, but we are protesting on behalf of the masses as citizens of this country. This protest is peaceful, but we need the government to do the needful. We are begging, let the government look at the masses and come to our aide, we need urgent attention. To balance Keke now is over five million naira for five years.”
The blockage of major roads had an immediate impact on the local economy as shops and businesses in the affected areas witnessed a sharp decline in customer traffic, as many of the shops and offices were closed within the period the protest lasted.
Some residents of the oil rich city of Warri, who spoke to our correspondent, called on the Federal Government to urgently look into the plights of citizens and jettison any plan to increase pump price of fuel.
Meanwhile, the prompt intervention of some community leaders calmed the growing tension in Igbudu community, Warri South Local Government Area. The leaders engaged in discussions with the protesters and managed to broker a temporary truce.
Responding to the development, the Youth President, Igbudu Community, Mr Zion Ereberi, said: “I was called this morning that they blocked some part of roads in Igbudu community protesting against recent increase in fuel pump price.
“When I came in, I asked if they informed the community before blocking major roads in the community protesting? They said no, they have not reported or informed the community. So, we don’t know who the protesters are, they did not tell the community before embarking on this protest in the community.
…. NANS Divided Over Threat To Shut Down Nigeria
Meanwhile, there was division, yesterday, among the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), over the vow by the association to shut down the nation by declaring nationwide protest against recent petrol price hike by the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
NANS said the planned massive shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria, would commence on September 15, 2024.
The student body said the protest is in response to the recent fuel price hike and the perceived incompetence of the NNPC Director General, Mele Kyari.
The union equally demanded an immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Kyari as the NNPC DG.
The notice was signed by the President of the Senate (NANS), Okunomo Henry Adewumi,
However, a faction of NANS dismissed the announcement. The notice was dismissed in a statement signed by NANS Senate President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez.
The statement explained that the student association did not announce or endorse the planned protest.
It described reports of the planned protest as baseless, adding that it did not reflect the position or intentions of NANS.
The student body urged security agencies to act decisively in apprehending any individuals or groups attempting to use the name of NANS to incite unrest or disrupt the peace of the nation.
It stressed the need to collectively ensure that the integrity of democratic processes and the rule of law are upheld at all times in the country, calling on security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the origin of the misinformation.
