The Forum of Zonal Coordinators of the National Association of Nigerian Students will commence constructive engagement with the Federal Government and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to achieve the reduction of the fuel pump price.
The Chairman of the Forum, Comrade Bilal Kurfi who addressed the press on Saturday, stated that the students believed that dialogue rather than confrontation will help solve the problem.
Kurfi, therefore, warned students across the country against participation in any purported planned protest over the recent increase in fuel price, saying NANS has not called for any protest that hoodlums could hijack.
“Rather than the student population marching to the streets in protests that could be hijacked further to 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 destabilize 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.
“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 destabilize 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 added.
While sympathising with the students over the challenges posed by what he described as a well-intentioned economic policies introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, he urged them to await the Association’s civil and democratic actions regarding the price hike, assuring them that the President as a sympathetic leader, would listen to their concerns.
Kurfi noted that NANS has not called for any protests or demonstrations, urging the general public to disregard any calls for protests made by non-students with ulterior motives.
He also denounced Mr. Henry Okunomo, who had earlier called for a nationwide protest and the shutdown of the economic system, adding that he was not a student.
“In alignment with the disclaimer earlier issued by the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology against One Henry Adewumi Okunomo that he was not a student of the prestigious institution, we further denounce his position calling for a nationwide protest and shutting off our economic system,”he stated.