Nigeria students stormed the street of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory today protesting against the closure of higher institutions of learning, urging the Government to re-open schools if market and religious gatherings could be allowed.
Great numbers of students were at the noon hours of Wednesday, 19th of August seen protesting peacefully on the street of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with placards containing different write-ups ranging from “Open our institutions now”, “We say no to schools closure”, to “FG, end issues with ASUU”, ” We want to learn and graduate”, among many others.
The angry students changed the sweet atmospheric sound in the cool environment to an uncomfortable one through lyrical songs, choruses and chants depicting anger, grief, dejection and oppression.
While addressing news men at the scene of the protests, Elijah Felix, the President of the National Association of University Students said;
“How do you close our Universities, Polytechnics and other academic Institutions and you are telling people you want to close the virus? Our demands are that our schools should be re-opened. ASSU strike has been lingering in this country for so long. Everytime the Government has issues with ASUU, it is the students that are at the receiving end” adding that “Everybody who is in school for a four-year programme ends up spending 6 or more years” adding that”.
While stating clearly their demand, Elijah said “We want the Government to find a way to address this and stop putting our generation at risk”.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government in April has ordered the closure of all Tertiary Institutions as part of the measures taken to curbing the spread of Covid 19 and ever since then, it has remained shut even after worship centers, Airports, Markets, social gatherings among many others shut alongside are now opened.
By Taiwo Micheal
GGB reports
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