The joint leadership of student unions in Nigerian tertiary institutions has threatened to embark on nationwide protests on February 4 over the “deplorable state” of federal roads across the country.
The unions are National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), and National Association of University Students (NAUS).
In a statement on Sunday, the unions said the country’s federal roads have become “corridors of preventable and avoidable death, claiming the lives of students, workers, traders, families, and transporters daily”.
The unions said the planned nationwide protest is not against the Nigerian state “but against institutional neglect, failed supervision, and the dangerous normalization of avoidable deaths”.
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The unions called for the sack of David Umahi, minister of works, over the decrepit roads.
“Of grave concern are federal highways running through or beside tertiary institutions, including but not limited to: Abuja-Lokoja-Okene Road (Felele Axis) near Federal University Lokoja & Kogi State Polytechnic,” the statement reads.
“Benin-Okpella-Auchi-Okene Road — near AAU Ekpoma & Auchi Polytechnic; Ibadan Oyo Ogbomosho Road near LAUTECH.
“Enugu-Onitsha Expressway (Awka Axis) near UNIZIK; Onitsha-Owerri Road (Ihiagwa Axis) near FUTO.
“Jos-Zaria Road — near University of Jos; Aba-Port Harcourt Road near RSU & ABSU corridors.
“Ilorin-Jebba Road — near University of Ilorin; Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road near University of Calabar.
“East-West Road (Choba/Aluu Axis) near University of Port Harcourt; North Gboko Katsina ala road.
“These routes are marked by failed road surfaces, unchecked heavy-duty truck movement, lack of pedestrian bridges, poor lighting, and repeated loss of young lives.
“We therefore call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to urgently relieve the Honourable Minister of Works of his duties and appoint a more credible and people-oriented leader.
“The current state of federal highways undermines the Renewed Hope Agenda and falls far short of the President’s vision for a safe, functional, and humane Nigeria.
“No reform agenda can succeed where citizens die daily on roads meant to connect opportunity, not coffins.
“We demand decisive presidential action to restore public confidence, protect lives, and realign the Ministry of Works with national priorities.”
The statement was signed by Josiah Peter Oche, national president of NAUS; Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, national president of NAPS; and Kur Isaac Ushahemba, national president of NANCES.
