The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANs) has declared that its demonstration at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday was only the first of its planned weeklong protests.

Raymond Ojo, NANS National Chairman on Taskforce for #EndASUUStrikeNow, stated that the union was tired of the federal government’s irresponsibility and would not back down until its demands were met, and would extend its protest to other parts of the country.

READ ALSO: Students to Block Runways, Disrupt Flights Over Lingering ASUU Strike

“For the past few days, we have been protesting simultaneously round the states of the country to protest the continued ASUU strike which has lasted over seven months as a result of the ‘crass irresponsibility’ of the Federal Government to fulfil the terms of the agreement they willingly signed with ASUU,” Ojo said.

“We are using this medium to reiterate that this protest continues and that we will not for any reason back down until the Federal Government takes the educational sector as a priority.

“It is quite pathetic that the Federal Government is making use of the armed forces to quench a genuine struggle of Nigerian students despite the fact that these officers are also victims of the system whose children are also affected the same way we are.”

The student body stated that it would extend its demonstration to the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Third Mainland Bridge while continuing to occupy the Murtala Muhammad International Airport.

“Today’s protest at Muritala Muhammed International Airport (Domestic and International wings) is just a preamble of what is to come in days ahead. And, we are informing the general public and the international community to pay serious attention to this struggle because we have been duly informed of the plan of the Federal Government to mobilise heavily against this protest,” said NANS.

“This was even witnessed today as anti-riot police officers and men of the Air Force were mobilised to attack us not until they were prevented by the mass of Nigerian students.

READ ALSO: ASUU Has Spent 19 Months on Strike Under Buhari — And It’s the Longest Since 1999

“We maintain that this protest shall last a week here in Lagos State and would be held simultaneously at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Nigerian Ports Authority and the third mainland bridge until our demands are met.”

FIJ earlier reported that students of public universities expressed displeasure with the lingering strike and had determined to press home their demands until their needs were met.