The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Enugu State chapter, emerged from a town hall meeting in Enugu and decided not to participate in the planned August 1–10 protests against the country’s hardships.
They stated that this could cause chaos and result in the loss of lives and property, similar to what happened during the EndSARS protests.
“We must consult and consolidate on our consultation before we confront,” the student body declared, arguing that the decision was consistent with its long-standing values of consultation, consolidation, and confrontation.
In the same vein, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) branch in Enugu State has decided not to participate in the demonstration and has filed a lawsuit for peaceful dialogue, ordering the youth of the state to refrain from participating in any protests in the interest of the state and the country.
The Enugu State Chapter of NANS Chairman, Comrade Prisca Okeke, gave a press conference following a town hall meeting that lasted more than four hours on Sunday. She stated that the event, which had as its theme “The Role of Students in Nation Building and National Stability,” was a response to the country’s worsening economic conditions and growing hardship.
She also emphasized that the current state of affairs and the country’s recent history made a street protest unfeasible at this time.
They tasked the Federal Government to act quickly to solve issues that affect students, faculty, and the academic community, such as the high expense of living and inadequate assistance.
“While we recognise the right to protest, we are also acutely aware of the potential for societal disruptions that can arise from protests that escalate into violence and unrest.
“The lessons from past civil strife like the EndSARS protests underscore the devastating consequences, including loss of lives, widespread displacement, economic decline, and the erosion of social cohesion.
“In alignment with the National Body of NANS, which has called for a peaceful resolution and demonstrated this through a peaceful march in FCT, the Enugu State Students arising from this townhall engagements unanimously resolves not to participate in the proposed nationwide protests.
“The student leaders in Enugu State are deeply empathetic to the prevalent hardship in Nigeria and the outcry of Nigerian citizens. However, in the interest of preserving peace and preventing a repeat of the EndSARS experience, we advocate for alternative means of addressing these issues.
“We call on the FG to urgently address the widespread hardship by implementing policies that have a direct and positive impact on the lives of citizens. This includes measures to reduce inflation and make essential commodities more affordable.”
In a related development, the National Youth Council of Nigeria’s Enugu State chapter stated in a statement read to reporters by Comrade Bartholomew Okoh, the Chairman of NYCN, Enugu State, that they preferred dialogue over street protest because it could get out of control. The statement was supported by more than fifty youth organizations in the state.
“The youth of Enugu State, under the aegis of the NYCN, have chosen a path of dialogue and engagement with both the State and Federal Government, rather than participating in the national protests slated for August 1st to 10.
“This significant decision prioritises constructive conversations as a means to address the array of pressing issues that concern the youth and the broader community.
“While recognising and respecting the right to protest, the youths of Enugu firmly believe that dialogue is in the best interest of the State and country at large. This approach will help to avoid the economic disruptions witnessed during the EndSARS protests, which had far-reaching consequences.
“In light of the above, we strongly urge the FG to promptly address the following pressing issues, namely, security, job creation, affordable food prices, improvement in the quality of education and healthcare, reduction of fuel prices, youth involvement in governance, among other demands,” they stated.
