The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to tackle hunger and economic challenges in the country, warning that citizens are facing severe hardship.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Abdulyekinn Odunayo, Clerk of the Senate at NANS headquarters, the association criticised the prevailing conditions, describing them as “unwarranted impoverishment” since President Tinubu assumed office.
They called for policies that could revitalise Nigeria’s economy.
Odunayo highlighted that the simultaneous removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira by the current administration had exacerbated economic difficulties, leading to heightened hunger and soaring living costs for millions of Nigerians.
He expressed disappointment that many had hoped the economic woes caused by the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari would be addressed, but instead, prices of essential commodities and food had skyrocketed.
The statement also noted that students had not been spared, as many are now unable to continue their education due to the dire economic situation.
“There is an urgent need by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to put measures in place to arrest hunger, poverty, impoverishment going on in the country. Nigerians are seriously groaning under the heavy burden of the present parlous economic situation. The nation has not had it this bad.
“The dual swords of Damocles of fuel subsidy removal and float of naira have stabbed Nigerians at their hearts. Many families can no longer feed even once in a day, let alone three times a day. Free falls of our currency against the dollars and other international currencies have capped the sufferings of Nigerians.
“As representatives of the Nigerian students, we are making a passionate call on the president to tailor and rev up his economic policies to provide short term, medium term and long term reliefs for Nigerians. Things need to improve as many Nigerians are finding it difficult to survive,” the statement concluded.
