In a bold statement on Tuesday, the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Henry Okunomo, refuted claims that the student body had received Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses from the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Okunomo, speaking from Kano, stressed that no such handover had taken place, despite the widely publicized distribution.
In his statement, which was made available to the press, Comrade Okunomo demanded immediate clarification on the issue, urging the government to address the misinformation and avoid creating confusion among the student population. Despite the claims, no buses have been handed over to our leadership, he reiterated, calling for a transparent explanation to clear up any misconceptions.
Comrade Okunomo also highlighted concerns over individuals within President Tinubu’s government who, according to him, were allegedly creating divisions within the student body. We urge President Tinubu to caution agents within his government who are causing division among students, he said, emphasizing that such actions could further destabilize the already delicate situation in the country.
The NANS Senate President also addressed recent leadership transitions within the student body, asserting that the current leadership under Comrade Pedro Chibuzo Obi was the result of a peaceful transition from the previous administration led by Comrade Usman Barambu. He called for respect for the association’s organizational structure, noting that just as President Tinubu’s rise to power followed a peaceful transfer, similar respect should be accorded to NANS.
We emphasize that President Tinubu’s ascension to office was facilitated by a peaceful transfer of power; hence, we expect similar respect for our organizational structure, he added.
NANS expressed concerns that the false claims surrounding the bus distribution could incite further unrest in the country. Comrade Okunomo warned against the circulation of false allegations and stressed the importance of proper coordination in the handover of the buses, should it occur. He concluded by stating, We caution against false allegations, as no single bus has been received from the Federal Government. We hope this false handover of buses won’t lead to a crisis, considering the country’s already volatile state.
The denial from NANS raises important questions about transparency in government dealings and the need for clear communication between authorities and key organizations like NANS. As the students call for clarification, all eyes are now on the Federal Government to address the situation and prevent further tensions within the student community.