Students under the platform of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) stormed the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to press their demands on the government to resolve the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike that has dragged on for almost seven months.
Recall NANS had earlier said it would start activities at the domestic and international airports across the country from Monday, September 18 over the ongoing strike.
It said its decision to ground airport operations was due to the successes recorded in its road protests during which several highways were blocked.
The leadership of NANS, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the establishment of airports was to make the rich share in the pain of the students caused by the prolonged strike action.
Chairman, NANS National Task Force on ‘End ASUU Strike Now’, Ojo Raymond Olumide, said students are tired of pleading with both parties to end the strike.
Olumide admonished ASUU not to call off the strike after any increase in their salary but to insist on other demands that led to the strike action.
According to him, “next week we will start another round of protest by storming the airspace on Monday, September 19, 2022 to #OccupyTheAirports. We want to let the world know about the pains and anguish students are going through.
“Nigerian students whose parents created the commonwealth cannot continue to suffer at home with our lecturers while the few who benefit from our sweat and blood have their children abroad.
“We call on students to stand up and join us as we take our destiny into our own hands. Our demands remain clear and simple throughout. We call on ASUU leadership for a meeting as soon as possible to discuss and plan solidarity actions for the next phase of the struggle.”
He explained that the student body did not need to inform the police about the planned demonstration at ground airports because they were not subject to security agencies.
