Nigerian Students Protest, Block Lagos Airport Over ASUU Strike
Students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have stormed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to press down their demands for the government to resolve the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike which has dragged on for almost seven months.
The students gathered on Monday amid heavy security presence.
Recall NANS had earlier said it would ground activities at the local and international airports across the country beginning from Monday, September 18 over the lingering strike.
It said its decision to ground airport activities was due to the successes recorded in its road protest during which several highways were blocked.
The students blocked by security operatives from gaining access to the airport took over the road, preventing traffic flow both inward and outward from the facility.
The protesters were led by NANS National Taskforce Chairman, Olumide Ojo; Vice President, External Affairs, Akinteye Babatunde; Public Relations Officer, Giwa Yisa Temitope; Zone D Coordinator, Adegboye Emmanuel Olatunji; Deputy Senate President, Ekundina Elvis; Ondo JCC Chairman, Omotosho Surprise; Lagos JCC Chairman, Olusesi Tolulope Samson; Ogun JCC Chairman, Kehinde Damilola Simeon and Oyo JCC Chairman, Adeleke Quadri Abidemi.
The students, in their hundreds, demanded an immediate end to the strike which has entered its seventh month, urging the Nigerian government to meet the demands of the striking lecturers to enable them to return to class.
They could be seen singing and dancing on the road, creating gridlock on the busy highway.