Regarding the recent increase in petrol prices, the Forum of Zonal Coordinators of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged for a change from demonstrations to productive discourse.
The planners emphasized that having conversations with pertinent parties will be a more effective way to solve the problem and come up with long-term fixes than holding protests that may be manipulated by people with nefarious agendas.
It underlined that NANS had never called for a protest or demonstration and advised the public to ignore any requests for action made by those who are not students and who may have other agendas.
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The Chairman of the Forum, Comrade Bilal Kurfi, who addressed reporters on Saturday in Abuja, sympathised with the student population over the challenges posed by what he called well-intentioned economic policies introduced by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Kurfi said: “Rather than the student population marching to the streets in protests that could be hijacked to further heighten the already escalating tensions in the system, we believe that dialogue, rather than confrontation, should be adopted to resolve the current crisis. We are intellectuals, not street urchins or political thugs who can be hired by anyone or a group of moneybags to destabilise the country.
“NANS is committed to peaceful and constructive engagement, and we will not be part of any activity that may compromise the safety and well-being of our members and the general public.
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“The students shall engage in dialogue with the FG and NNPCL to seek a reduction in petrol prices to mitigate the effects of inflation on our colleagues.
“The idea of protests being called by some non-students masquerading as our colleagues could destabilise the country, and this is not an option for us. We prefer dialogue over actions that could be deemed partisan and counterproductive to the development and unity of our nation.”
He urged the entire student population to await its civil and democratic actions regarding the price hike and assured them that President Tinubu, as a sympathetic leader, will listen to their concerns.
The Forum also denounced one Mr. Henry Adewumi Okunomo, who called for a nationwide protest and shutdown of the economic system.
