The Coalition of Concerned Northern Youth and Students has announced its withdrawal from a planned nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship in Nigeria.
Comrade Jibrin Sani Bello, Senate President of the National Association of Kano State Students (NAKS), conveyed this decision during a press briefing in Kano.
Bello explained that concerns about the unknown identity of the protest organizers influenced their decision.
“Preparations for the protest were at an advanced stage, but upon reflection and consultations, Nigerian students should refrain from participating in the national protest due to our lack of knowledge about its organisers,” he stated.
The students emphasized that protests often disrupt academic activities, which could negatively impact their educational progress.
While acknowledging the economic challenges facing the country, they cautioned against worsening the situation through poorly organized protests.
“We recognise the economic hardship facing Nigerians, but we believe that participating in an unknown protest could lead to unintended consequences,” Bello added.
The students expressed suspicions of potential financial inducements influencing the motives of the protest organizers, prompting their decision to withdraw.
Instead of protests, they advocated for expanding the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide scholarships for eligible students pursuing education locally or internationally.
Abdulrahman Mansir, a student at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University in Katsina, highlighted previous instances where protests extended academic sessions, disrupting student schedules and potentially exacerbating educational challenges.
“We must organise ourselves effectively as students. Protests can disrupt our academic progress and may not effectively address Nigeria’s broader challenges. We rely on divine intervention to resolve our national issues,” Mansir concluded.
