Nigerian students stage protests, demand reopening of schools

NIGERIAN students under the aegis of National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education (NANCES), have taken to streets to protest the delay in reopening all tertiary institutions in the country

The students in a nationwide protest to demand the immediate reopening of campus across Nigeria.

The students also threatened to shut down the economy and every other sector in the country if the government refuses to immediately reopen all the tertiary institutions in the country.

National President, National Association of University Students (NAUS), Ije Felix said the cure of the Coronavirus can only come from researches which are only conducted in the universities.

“It is fundamental to note that the cure of the virus can only come through research, research are not done anywhere except the campuses, research are not done at home or in the market. If the government is serious with this pandemic so that professors can begin to conduct researches.

“Nobody gave us money to come and protest in Abuja, we came here to tell Nigerians how we feel, we came to exercise our fundamental human rights. We are also here to tell the Nigerian government that we are tired of staying at home.” He said.

The Senate President, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Dio Oghale Emeka Rex, said with the re-opening of markets, worship centres and international flights, there was no basis for the continued closure of tertiary institutions.

“The federal government is just playing with the future Nigerian student’s. The fear of Coronavirus is not in any political party, the fear of Coronavirus is in our institutions. The pandemic has not taking the life of students that the lockdown has taken.

“Many students have been victimised sexually and many of them have been murdered. Assuming they are in their various institutions, by now most of them would have graduated.

“Many political parties conducted their primary elections and rallies without regard for social distancing and wearing of facemask,” he said.

According to him, “The age limit for national service is 30 years and most of us are 29, of it continue like this, at the end of the day we will not be mobilised but NYSC we will shut down the country they refuse to open the schools.”

NIGERIAN students under the aegis of National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education (NANCES), have taken to streets to protest the delay in reopening all tertiary institutions in the country

The students in a nationwide protest to demand the immediate reopening of campus across Nigeria.

The students also threatened to shut down the economy and every other sector in the country if the government refuses to immediately reopen all the tertiary institutions in the country.

National President, National Association of University Students (NAUS), Ije Felix said the cure of the Coronavirus can only come from researches which are only conducted in the universities.

“It is fundamental to note that the cure of the virus can only come through research, research are not done anywhere except the campuses, research are not done at home or in the market. If the government is serious with this pandemic so that professors can begin to conduct researches.

“Nobody gave us money to come and protest in Abuja, we came here to tell Nigerians how we feel, we came to exercise our fundamental human rights. We are also here to tell the Nigerian government that we are tired of staying at home.” He said.

The Senate President, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Dio Oghale Emeka Rex, said with the re-opening of markets, worship centres and international flights, there was no basis for the continued closure of tertiary institutions.

“The federal government is just playing with the future Nigerian student’s. The fear of Coronavirus is not in any political party, the fear of Coronavirus is in our institutions. The pandemic has not taking the life of students that the lockdown has taken.

“Many students have been victimised sexually and many of them have been murdered. Assuming they are in their various institutions, by now most of them would have graduated.

“Many political parties conducted their primary elections and rallies without regard for social distancing and wearing of facemask,” he said.

According to him, “The age limit for national service is 30 years and most of us are 29, of it continue like this, at the end of the day we will not be mobilised but NYSC we will shut down the country they refuse to open the schools.”