27th October, 2016
Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) marched on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway in Awka to protest alleged extortion by officials of the Anambra government.
The protesters carried placards with various inscription, including ‘students reject illegal tolls’, Gov. Obiano save our soul’, and ‘Students back Obiano on abolition of illegal levies’ among others.
Addressing newsmen, the National Financial Secretary of the association, Mr Ikechukwu Okorie, said that drivers of shuttle buses at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, who were registered with the association, were beaten up for not paying the toil.
Okorie said the understanding was that buses which were branded in NANS colours were immune from the government’s tolls and wondered why the government officials insisted they paid.
“We can no longer accept a situation where our drivers are forced to buy tickets and beaten up when they refuse to do so.
“This is happening under the collusion of the state revenue office who are using some people to make life difficult for us and the governor has said no to illegal tolls,” he said.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Anambra Joint Campus Committee, Mr Amaechina Ikedi, said the protest would continue if tolling on their members was not stopped.
Reacting, the Director of Communication in the university, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, described the protest as strange, saying that the institution had not received such a report.
Ojukwu said the institution would review its transport scheme which had been invaded by strangers.
He condemned the students who barricaded the expressway at the school gate, saying, however, that the students were on break enjoying their holiday.
In another reaction, the Coordinator of Anambra Shuttle Bus Drivers Welfare Association, Mr Onyebuchi Okeke, said the buses were not operating within the jurisdiction approved for them.
Okeke said campus-branded buses operated within the campus to the nearest bus terminus in town, adding that those in Awka had taken over the town.
He said the students’ buses were ferrying market women, civil servants and the general public which the city shuttles should take care of.
“First of all, I must say the Anambra government does not have anything to do with what the students are talking about; my association is the group the students have problem with.
“How can students’ buses be going everywhere in the town and even to the villages to carry passenger without obeying the rules in those places?
“Our stand is that they should stick to their jurisdiction and we won’t come to them but if they must come to town they must buy our tickets because they are competing with our members,” he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of operations, Mr Joseph Kokumo, who led a team of personnel to ensure peace, said that there was no cause for alarm.
Kokumo advised the people to go about their lawful businesses as the police would ensure the protest did not degenerate.