The National Association of Nigerian Students on Saturday issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to mobilise contractors to Jalingo-Numan road or face mass protest.

The National President of NANS, Lucky Emonefe, issued the ultimatum at the third inauguration ceremony of the North East Zonal Executive Council of the union in Jalingo.

Mr Emonefe said that the union would relocate its national secretariat from Abuja to the North-East if the federal government failed to take action on the road after the expiration of the ultimatum.

He described the road as one of the worst in the country, stating that its deplorable condition was a threat to the life of Nigerian Students.

He said, “The National Association of Nigerian Students have declared a state of emergency on the Jalingo-Numan road. The road is one of the worst in Nigeria and is a death trap to Nigeria students, especially those in the North-East. We call on concerned authorities, especially the Federal Ministry of Works to order the contractor to return to site. We are therefore, issuing a 14-day warning to take action on the road or NANS will relocate it secretariat to the North-East.’’

The president commended the Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, for his student-friendly policies in the state.

He described Mr Kefas as the best education-friendly governor in Nigeria.

He listed some of his feats to include the implementation of free education policy and a slash of 50 per cent school fees for tertiary institutions in the state.

He advised other governors to emulate the template adopted by the governor on education.

Mr Emonefe also thanked President Bola Tinubu for the introduction of students’ loans.

He said that students had benefited from the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the administration, calling on the students to support the Tinubu administration to succeed.

He advised the newly inaugurated zonal coordinator to carry students along in his administration.

Earlier, the newly sworn -in Coordinator of NANS in the North-East, Umar Afkawa, said that his vision was to improve the welfare of students in the zone.

Mr Afkawa also said that he would ensure academic excellence, security, safety, empowerment and entrepreneurship of students among others. 

(NAN)