A media advocacy group in Nigeria is calling on the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS to suspend its decision from occupying national asset as Airports, Seaports, railways and major roads.
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria appealed on Tuesday in a Press Release jointly signed by its National Coordinator Mallam Ibrahim Abdullahi and its National Secretary, Dr Nasir Balogun.
Members of the student organisation who were protesting against the continued strike of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, occupied roads leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as well as the Apapa Seaport on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Voice of Nigeria reports that the blockade of roads leading to the nation’s Airport on Monday disrupted flight schedules, leading to the rescheduling of many flights and seeing many travellers stranded.
According to the Group, “since the matter under contention is being adequately addressed from all angles, including the Industrial Court, street protests leading to blockage of federal highways, access to Airports and disruption of flights will surely lead to the breakdown of law and order as security agents would surely prevent such from happening; and this might eventually lead to the breach of peace currently being enjoyed by all in the commercial city of Lagos.
“In Nigeria, when lawful protests are set in motion, miscreants and unpatriotic elements usually hijack such lawful protests to wreak havoc on the people, such as we witnessed during #ENDSARS protests throughout the Country two years ago.”
The Group said Nigeria could no longer bear such terrible hardship and dislocation again as ‘two wrongs do not make right.
It appealed to students under the banner of NANS to allow peace to prevail “by exercising a little patience more for the matter to be resolved” within the month for academic activities to commence in the first week of next month.”
The Media Group however appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent steps to make the resumption of students possible by the first week of October, by granting more concessions, no matter how little.
They expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance to the Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities that visited him a few days ago was highly promising.
On the Academic Union, the Media Watch Group called on the leadership of the Union to reflect on the untold hardship the strike has inflicted on Nigerians and called on them to resolve to accept whatever the Federal Government offers them for the nation to move forward.
They warned that intransigence and hardline postures on both sides portend danger for Nigeria and its citizens.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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