The National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government to improve security and welfare of Nigerian students across the country.
The student body made the demand on Friday as it staged a nationwide Democracy Day Walk simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Imo, Kano and Gombe states to commemorate 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria.
Speaking during the walk in Port Harcourt, the President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde in a statement he personally signed said the celebration of Democracy Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the gains of democracy and the need to safeguard its core dividends, especially security and citizens’ welfare.
The Democracy Day Walk attracted participation from students across various tertiary institutions in the states where the event was held, with participants advocating stronger democratic institutions, improved security and greater attention to students’ welfare.
Akinteye noted that Nigerian students remain committed to the ideals of democracy and national development, stressing that students have historically played critical roles in shaping the nation’s democratic journey.
He paid tribute to past and present democracy advocates whose sacrifices contributed to sustaining democratic governance in Nigeria despite prevailing political and social challenges.
According to him, all Nigerians must unite in protecting and preserving the country’s democratic institutions and values.
The NANS president expressed concern over the continued captivity of students abducted in Oyo and Borno states, urging the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward their immediate rescue and safe return.
“While we celebrate the nation’s democratic progress, we appeal to the Federal Government to do everything within its capacity to ensure the rescue and safe return of our students who remain in captivity,” he said.
Akinteye, however, commended the efforts and sacrifices of security personnel across the country, urging them to sustain and strengthen ongoing operations to achieve lasting peace and security.
He also lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for consolidating June 12 as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day and for continuing to honour the memory of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and other heroes of the pro-democracy struggle, particularly members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
The NANS president maintained that students are not passive observers in the nation’s affairs, noting that Nigerian students have consistently been at the forefront of major social and political transformations.
“Our responsibility today is to deepen the culture of democratic participation within our institutions, communities and in the choices we make as citizens of Nigeria,” he stated.
He further assured Nigerian students of his administration’s commitment to advancing their welfare and protecting their interests, promising to continue amplifying their voices on issues affecting education and national development.
June 12 is observed annually as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in honour of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the country’s history. The election, believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, was annulled by the military government, triggering widespread protests and intensifying demands for democratic rule.
The date was officially adopted as Democracy Day in 2018 in recognition of the significance of the June 12 struggle and the sacrifices of pro-democracy activists who fought for the restoration of civil rule.