Nigerian students have threatened to embark on a nationwide protest for the federal government’s rejection to reopen tertiary institutions across the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was disclosed during a virtual meeting held on Sunday, August 16, by the students under the aegis of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and National Association of College of Education Students (NANCES).
They also resolved to give the federal government a two-week ultimatum to lift the ban on tertiary institutions, saying failure to reopen schools will be met with rejection by students.
Speaking on the planned protest further, NANCES president Mahmud Abubakar said the students will stage a protest at the Federal Ministry of Education building in Abuja before marching to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariats in their various states.
“The agitation is still one, which is the re-opening of our campuses. We just want to hear from the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, the date for resumption, as we are more open to the deadly coronavirus at home than on campus, and an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” Abubakar said. The students’ leaders also berated the federal government for not putting a priority on the education sectors despite its gradual reopening process of the economy. “Our institutions have been placed under lock and key for good six months with the claim of preventing the spread of COVID-19 on campuses. As much as we appreciate the government for the acclaimed love, we condemn in totality the continued closure of our institutions,” NAPS president Sunday Asuka said, adding that necessary agencies have been notified.
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