The Minister of Education Tahir Mamman has advised Nigerian students to avoid the August protest, which is set to commence on the first day of the month.
In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, and sent to university Vice-Chancellors, the minister noted that the government had received notification about a planned protest by what he referred to as unknown groups.
He explained that the Vice chancellors should be wary of protests and safeguard the university’s properties in case of any protest. He further established that the government is fully aware of citizens’ right to protest, but the safety of staff and students is a priority.
“Consequently, the Honourable Minister has directed that Vice-Chancellors of all Nigerian Universities should take proactive steps to ensure the security and safety of the university community, including staff and students. In addition, Vice-Chancellors are to please issue specific statements to assure staff and students of their safety. It is also advisable that students remain on campus to focus on their academic pursuits to avoid exposure to any potential danger during the planned protests”.
The planned protest has drawn major attention in Nigeria after the government was notified of the demonstration, which is #EndBadGovernance. The call for the protest has been trending on social media, with X being the most famous.
All efforts to discourage potential protesters have failed, as the organizer has insisted that hungry Nigerians are the sponsors of the August peaceful protest, which is intended to communicate the country’s state of hopelessness to the government.
