ASUU Strike: NANS Threatens Continued Protest As Students Cause Gridlock

Protesting students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have threatened to continue to protest against the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

AllNews Nigeria earlier reported that the protesters staged their demonstration at the Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Sagamu Interchange) in a bid to compel the federal government and ASUU to find a quick solution to their impasse.

Efforts by stranded vehicle drivers and commuters to get the students off the road proved abortive as they insisted on taking over the major road until their demands are met.

Abidemi Adeleke, NANS Chairman, Oyo State chapter, in reacting to the aggrieved students' protest stated that the action came after the FG and ASUU failed to resolve their issues.

He added that the protest would continue tomorrow until the students' demands are met.

“The protest was due to the lingering impasse between the Federal Government and ASUU, which had defied all solutions.

“We want the Federal Government to end ASUU strike permanently, that is why we are on the road protesting.

Gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to ASUU Strike protest

“This is just the tip of an iceberg. We are just getting started.

“Today, we are live at Lagos- Ibadan Expressway, just after Sagamu Interchange.

“And, tomorrow, by the special grace of God, we will be at another location, next tomorrow the same thing, until our voice is heard,” Adeleke said.

Also speaking to journalists on the protest ground, Afeez Akinteye, the National Vice-President, NANS External Affairs maintained that the students have had enough and are willing to give it all it takes to return to their lecture rooms.

“Our demand is not new; it is for the government to end the ASUU strike now.

“We have had enough of this. We started the protest today; we will continue until the strike is called off.

“We don’t want to know how they will do it, because the government has the money and the power.

“We are just interested in going back to the classrooms, they should fund education and end the ASUU strike.

“With the new leadership of NANS, it is not going to be business as usual,” Akinteye said.

“We have packed our loads from our homes and we are now ready for this struggle until the strike is called off.

“Over 500 of us from various universities nationwide are staging this protest, saying ‘End ASUU strike permanently,” Akinteye said.