The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, South-West zone, has condemned the hardship brought upon Nigerians, most especially upon students, by the increment in fuel pump prices in the southwestern region of the country.

NANS, in a statement signed by the zone’s Coordinator, deputy Coordinator and Public Relations Officer, Adejuwon Olatunji, Alao John and Awoyinfa Opeoluwa respectively, on Tuesday, said the country’s economy had been in a state of uncertainty and didn’t know what to expect next.

“With so much displeasure, we critically stand against the increase in fuel pump price by all fuel marketers across boards. It has gotten to the peak where we resort to our ‘last C of Auta’ which is confrontation.

“The leadership of NANS, South-West, hereby declares massive protest against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.

“As much as we welcome the dialogue before protest which authenticates our first and second Cs of Aluta, we insist that our action to occupy fuel outlets by shutting down all petroleum stations in the South-West region is in tandem with the show of democracy and a way to say no to concurrent hardship on Nigerians and Nigerian students in particular,” the statement partly bread.

NANS added that timetable of protests across southwestern states (Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti) would be released “in less than 48 hours in our next press release.”

“Any attack on our protest would be a contravention and an assault on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 1981 – a treaty-turned-Act, which does not accommodate derogation in any form and Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which provides for Right to Freedom of Association and Assembly,” the students concluded.

Fuel scarcity cum skyrocketed pump prices have rocked southwestern states in what looks like the usual yuletide trend. Our correspondent has observed fuel queues in Lagos and Ogun states as people continue to struggle around with their kegs and vehicles in the hot weather in search for petrol.