NANS Takes A Stand Against Sabotage Of Petroleum Industry Revitalization – Nigeria Education News

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a public notice announcing a coordinated National Warning Action across three major cities in Nigeria Lagos, Asaba, and Abuja scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, beginning at 8:00 a.m. The student body declared that the protest would serve as a strong national statement against any form of sabotage targeting the revitalization of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, which it described as “critical to the nation’s economic survival and industrial growth.”

In a press statement released under reference number NANS/NS/NAC/10/25 and signed by NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, the association emphasized that the failure of Nigeria’s refineries remains one of the greatest economic paradoxes in the country’s history. Despite being blessed with vast crude oil reserves, Nigeria continues to rely on imported refined petroleum products, a situation the group described as “a national embarrassment and an economic burden that deepens poverty and inflation.”

The statement explained that the collapse of local refining capacity has for decades forced Nigeria to export crude oil at low value and import finished petroleum products at exorbitant prices. According to NANS, this vicious economic cycle has crippled the country’s economy, increased inflationary pressures, and worsened living conditions for millions of citizens. The student body noted that such inefficiencies have also made the country overly dependent on foreign markets, which in turn places tremendous strain on the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.

Following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, NANS stated that the need for fully functional and operational refineries in Nigeria has become more urgent than ever. The group described refinery revitalization as the only sustainable solution to achieving stable energy prices, reducing pressure on the naira, creating mass employment, and restoring industrial productivity. It further warned that any deliberate attempt to sabotage refinery development whether by vested political interests, foreign actors, or economic saboteurs will be met with strong resistance from Nigerian students nationwide.

The student body reiterated its firm position that the revitalization of the petroleum sector is not a political privilege but a national necessity. “Any deliberate or coordinated act to frustrate refinery development,” the statement said, “is an act against the Nigerian people and a betrayal of national trust.” NANS therefore called on all patriotic Nigerians to unite in defense of the nation’s energy sovereignty and economic independence.

To this end, NANS has announced three major convergence points for the protest. In Lagos State, the demonstration will take place at Iyana Oworo, led by Comrade Akinbodunse Sileola Praise, the NANS Vice President (Intercampus Affairs). He will be joined by Comrade Sam Rich, the NANS National PRO; Comrade Adejuwon Olatunji Emmanuel, Assistant Secretary General; and the NANS Zone D Coordinator. This team, according to the statement, will mobilize students across tertiary institutions in the South-West region.

In Delta State, the protest is slated to be held at Koka Junction, Asaba. It will be led by Comrade Tenyo, NANS Vice President (National Affairs), and Comrade Jeremiah Friday, the National Financial Secretary. They will work in coordination with the zonal leaders of Zones B and F to ensure smooth mobilization of students from South-South and South-East institutions. The Asaba protest is expected to attract a large turnout of students, youth organizations, and allied civil society groups in the Niger Delta region.

The Abuja leg of the protest will take place at Unity Fountain, to be led by Comrade Olushola Oladoja himself, alongside the NANS National Secretary and Zonal Coordinators of Zones A, C, and E. The Abuja convergence, according to the notice, will serve as the symbolic center of the nationwide movement, representing the collective voice of Nigerian students before the Federal Government and international observers.

NANS further appealed to civil society groups, youth coalitions, and labor unions to join the peaceful action in solidarity with Nigerian students. It assured that the protest would be conducted in strict adherence to peaceful and lawful procedures, maintaining that the goal is not to disrupt national stability but to awaken government accountability in the petroleum sector. “Together, we must defend Nigeria’s economic future and demand the full revitalization of our petroleum industry for the good of all,” the statement read.

The student body also highlighted the economic dangers of neglecting local refinery operations. It argued that Nigeria’s continuous dependence on imported fuel not only weakens national sovereignty but also diverts billions of dollars that could otherwise be used to fund education, health, and infrastructure. According to NANS, building and maintaining local refineries would strengthen the naira, lower transportation costs, and reduce the overall cost of living.

Comrade Oladoja’s statement emphasized that students, as the most vibrant segment of the population, would no longer stand by while government inefficiency and elite corruption continue to impoverish Nigerians. He noted that the National Warning Action is the first phase of a broader campaign to monitor government performance in energy reforms and ensure full transparency in refinery rehabilitation and privatization efforts.

The association concluded by reaffirming its readiness to engage constructively with the government and private investors, provided such engagement is genuine and prioritizes national interest. “NANS stands firmly against any form of sabotage, hostility, or obstruction to the revitalization of the Nigerian petroleum industry,” it declared. “The survival of our nation’s economy and citizens’ welfare depends on ensuring that our refineries both public and private function optimally.”

In closing, NANS invoked its traditional rallying cry Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta! symbolizing the students’ unyielding commitment to justice, national progress, and economic independence. The October 8 action, the group said, marks the beginning of a renewed student-driven movement to restore Nigeria’s industrial dignity and reclaim its energy sovereignty.