Student leaders demand state of emergency as insecurity grips Nigeria

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a formal plea to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to declare an immediate state of emergency on insecurity to protect the lives of citizens and the future of Nigerian students.

In a press statement released on Friday, the Senate President of NANS, Usman Nagwaza, emphasized that the student body is increasingly concerned about the wave of violence disrupting academic life and communal peace. He urged the Presidency to provide the Ministry of Defence with the necessary resources to crush the criminal elements currently operating with impunity.

“NANS does not represent barbarism or criminality. Our concern is Nigeria, especially students, who are directly affected by insecurity,” the statement declared. “We also call on the President to declare a state of emergency on insecurity and further empower the armed forces to intensify operations against criminal elements across the country.”

The association also addressed the political friction surrounding the nation’s security architecture. Specifically, NANS defended the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, against recent accusations of ties to banditry, dismissing the claims as a distraction from the primary goal of national safety.

According to the statement:
“NANS appealed to Nigerians to rally behind the Ministry of Defence and reject what it termed the politics of character assassination, stressing that such actions undermine national efforts to restore peace and stability.”

The call from NANS comes as the Tinubu administration moves to modernize the nation’s arsenal. Recent efforts include the refurbishment of over 100 armored fighting vehicles and a strategic plan to acquire advanced drones and mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles.

With the recent appointment of General Christopher Musa as the Minister of Defence, the government has signaled a shift toward a more integrated response. However, NANS maintains that only a full state of emergency and an intensified military offensive will suffice to restore order to the country’s troubled regions.

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