The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has threatened to embark on mass action if the Federal Government fails to take immediate steps to address the current fuel crisis in the country.
NAPS in a statement jointly issued by its National President, Ridwan Opeyemi Munirudeen and its Senate President, Adeniji Boluwaji Temitope on Monday, 8th of July, 2024 expressed its displeasure at the fuel scarcity bedeviling some part of the nation.
According to NAPS, most of students especially those who are preparing to write their final exams could not afford to go to school due to the fuel challenges in some part of the nation.
NAPS also urged the leadership of NNPC led by Mallam Mele Kyari to within 72hrs address the crisis or honorably resign and apologise to Nigerians for inflicting unnecessary pains and frustration on citizens.
The statement reads partly: “Ever since the removal of fuel subsidy, the entire student and leadership of Nigeria Polytechnic sector have maintained calmness, this is because we have strong believe in the vision of our father President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and as such, we don’t want to be tagged as an enemy of development.
“Unfortunately, our critical study have shown that the management of NNPC is nothing but a saboteur of this government, their actions and inactions over the issue of fuel subsidy is worrisome, especially now that it has become a reoccurring decimal in an administration that is less than two years, we see this as a deliberate act to smear the image and dent the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It may interest you to know that virtually all Nigeria Polytechnic, Federal, State and Private are in their second semester, this implies that most of our students are preparing to write their final exams, but unfortunately, over 75% can’t go to school because of fuel Scarcity, students can no longer afford to transport themselves to school since transport fare has unreasonably skyrocket, both students and staff have reduced their lecture days just in a bid to contain the excesses of NNPC.
“It is on record that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR means well for Nigeria Students and ever since his emergence, he has never handled the welfare and well being of Nigeria Students with levity and as such, we see this “TOO FREQUENT” Fuel Scarcity as a calculated attempt to incite the general public, especially “WE” the concerned students against the government.
“In lieu of this, we demand urgent explanation and lasting solution from the leadership of NNPC within 72hrs or the GMD NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari should honorably resign and apologize to Nigerians for inflicting unnecessary pains and frustration on them at this time that the government is assiduously working round the clock to stabilize our economy and rescue the citizens from our common enemy which is insecurity.
The students’ body, however, warned against failure to address the fuel crisis, adding that if the development persist it will mobilise students for a nationwide protest.
