A fresh wave of protests broke out in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, on Thursday, as students and youths took to the streets to demand urgent action from the state government on rising insecurity and unfulfilled developmental promises.
The protest, led by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee, Ondo Axis, comes amidst increasing cases of kidnappings, farmer-herder clashes, and general insecurity in communities across the state. The demonstrators, mostly students, accused the government of persistent neglect and “empty promises,” particularly regarding student welfare and educational infrastructure.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough” and “We Demand Action Now,” the protesters marched through major roads in Akure, chanting and calling for immediate reforms.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NANS leaders Oluwarotimi Joshua, Chairman of the Joint Campus Committee, and Naheem Ademola, Deputy Coordinator of NANS South West Zone D, expressed frustration over the government’s inaction despite previous peaceful engagements and official appeals.
“Our demands are clear and just. We have engaged in peaceful dialogue, written official letters, and made numerous appeals, yet our cries have been ignored. Enough is enough! The government must act now,” the statement read.
The association outlined several key demands, including the renovation and equipping of institutional facilities, the construction and rehabilitation of student hostels, and improved security, particularly for students participating in the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
Other demands include the procurement of promised student buses, support for student entrepreneurship and skill acquisition programs, and justice for an unaddressed attack on NANS members in Ogbese.
“The attack on our members at Ogbese remains unaddressed. We will not stand idly while students are left vulnerable and neglected. We are calling on the government to do the needful before this issue escalates further,” the statement added.
NANS also called on all students in Ondo State to participate in the protest, emphasizing that it would remain peaceful but resolute.
“The power of the students must never be undermined. We are determined to hold the government accountable and demand the quality education and welfare we deserve,” the statement concluded.
As of press time, government officials had yet to issue a response to the protest. However, tensions remain high in Akure as students vow to sustain their demonstration until concrete action is taken by the state government.
The protest is the latest in a series of youth-led actions in Nigeria, as frustrations continue to mount over issues ranging from insecurity to educational neglect.
