Students issue 9-day ultimatum for reopening of varsities

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, South East, has given the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, a nine-day ultimatum to open all public universities.

The Coordinator of the south eastern zone of the association, NANS Zone F, Mr Moses Onyia, issued the ultimatum via a statement he released through his Chief Media Aide, Lillian Orji, on Tuesday in Enugu.

The statement said that the government and ASUU should reopen public institutions before nine days, as failure to do this within the required ultimatum would lead students to further serious agitations.

The statement partly reads, “from May 20 to May 25, 2022; after the expiration of the ultimatum, we will take up measures that will see to Nigerian students of the South-East extraction in their numbers blocking one of the major entrance into South-East – The Niger Bridge.

It said: “We will also block all the three airports in the South-East, which included: Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri and Anambra Passenger and Cargo International Airport, Umeri, Anambra. Thus, halting all movement to and from this axis of the South-East.

“It is our hope it does not get to this point, but when we are pushed to the wall, we are ready to hold the bull by the horn.

“Emphatically, we re-emphasise that government should show a commitment to the oath of protecting the interest and welfare of Nigerians and Nigerian students which they swore to.

“We enjoin all students in the South-East to remain law-abiding and peacefully but stay at alert and be on the lookout for instructions from its leadership as events unfold. When it becomes inevitable, the call to action will be made”.

it added that: “We will no longer keep quiet nor pretend all is well because we are no longer at ease.

“Unequivocally and in unison, we say a Big No to this extension and by the virtue of this press release notify the government, ASUU, security agencies and masses of our stand and position”.