The National Association of Nigerian Students has warned the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited against “any potential increase in fuel prices.”
NANS warned that if any such attempt were to occur, Nigerian students would take swift action to disrupt the activities of those responsible.
newsmen report that the NNPCL and fuel marketers, under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, clashed on Tuesday over the removal of subsidy on petrol.
While the NNPCL insisted that the government is no longer paying subsidy on petrol since it was removed by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, petroleum marketers insisted that with the current exchange rate, the price of a litre of petrol ought to have risen to N1,200.
The National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Ukadike Chinedu, said subsidy on petrol was rising and that the cost of the commodity should be around N1,200/litre in a free market.
The marketers’ projection of N1,200/litre appeared to have created fears among Nigerians that the government might hike the price of petrol from the current N600/litre to N1,200/litre.
Reacting in a statement signed by the factional President of NANS, Pedro Obi, the association said it is “deeply concerned about the potential consequences of fuel price hikes on the already burdened student community and the Nigerian masses.”
NANS held that any further increase in fuel prices would worsen the challenges being faced by students, and it could lead to the withdrawal of many from school due to financial difficulties.
“We will not stand idly while students suffer due to poverty caused by government policies at any level. We are committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian students and ensuring that their right to quality and affordable education is upheld.
“We hereby send a clear message to the Federal Government and NNPCL that any attempt to increase fuel prices will be met with strong resistance from NANS.
“We will mobilise students and the masses to challenge this at any point in time, expressing our discontent and demanding a reversal of such detrimental policies,” the statement read partly.
The association called on students and other concerned citizens to remain vigilant and be ready to stand up for their rights.
Meanwhile, the NNPCL said it has no plan to increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol.
The NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, made this known in a statement assuring Nigerians that there was no imminent increase in the cost of PMS.
