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| Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos |
The National Association of Nigerian Students, which is affiliated with the Lagos State Police Command, the Lagos Airport Police Command, and students may engage in a confrontation over the students' plan to shut down the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday (today).
The planned mass demonstration by the students is a continuation of their protest against the current strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Despite the fact that the students warned the general public on Sunday that they will start shutting down the country's airports on Monday (today) with the one in Lagos, police officials said the students "are free to come out and see what awaits them."
Olumide Ojo, the head of NAN's National Taskforce, revealed to one of our reporters that the organization was aware of the Federal Government's plans to mobilize the military in response to its demonstration.
However, he said that the association's protest at the Lagos airport would continue despite the action.
We can defend ourselves from outside forces, Ojo added. Although we are aware that the Federal Government has sent the military to the site of our protest, we still plan to blockade the airport.
"Since last Tuesday, we have been closing the main thoroughfares, beginning with the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and continuing to Guru Maharaji, blocking Gbongan, and so forth. We chose to concentrate on the routes that government officials travel most, which include the international airports and others, because they are the roadways that the general public uses.
"Flights from Nigeria should be rescheduled because tomorrow (today) will be canceled. No one will leave the building or enter.
Adegboye Olatunji, the NANS Coordinator for Zone D, also confirmed the development in a separate interview.
He said that among the airports, the Lagos airport would be the first to be closed by the students.
"On Monday, the Lagos airport will be closed" (today). All we need is a response from the government. We want the strike to stop.
Police disregard the threat
The Lagos State Police Command, however, called off the student body's threat to halt operations at the Lagos airport and encouraged everyone to carry out their legal responsibilities.
Speaking with confidence, everything is in tact, and there is no threat to the airport or the airspace, said the command's spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin.
"However, the demonstrators who made the threat are free to leave and find out what is in store for them. However, we firmly advise law-abiding Lagosians to carry out their official responsibilities without concern for intimidation or retaliation.
Olayinka Ojelade, a spokeswoman for the airport police command, added, "Our guys have been on standby since Friday, so nobody is lowering their guns to watch the students disrupt aviation operations.
"They can only block the airport entrance; they are unable to enter the airport. Any traveler will be aware of how to get past them and enter the airport. There are no striking airlines, therefore they will look after their customers. No one should cancel flights; they have been warned.
FAAN calms anxiety
As the nation's gateway, the airport's security has been stepped up, according to Hope Ivbaze, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria's spokesperson.
"You won't think that this kind of information will spread and security won't be tightened," she said.
"The airport serves as the country's entrance. There are already security personnel at the airport, and when incidents like these occur, security is stepped up.
ASUU supports NANS
However, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the national president of ASUU, praised the students for standing up for their rights in an interview with members of the press.
"We applaud the NANS members who stood up for their rights. Their right to do so. Also performing well are the pro-chancellors. Because they (pro-chancellors) are aware of what is going on in Nigerian universities, we hope the government would pay attention to them, he added.
Additionally, Osodeke told Members of the press that it would honor Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila's invitation to a meeting on Tuesday.
A group cautions students
Meanwhile, the NANS leadership has been urged to reverse its decision to seize the country's airports by the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria.
The group issued the call in a statement that was available to journalists on Sunday and was jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullahi, and National Secretary, Dr. Nasir Balogun.
A breakdown in law and order would result from public protests blocking access to airports, federal highways, and aircraft, the group warned.
The union began a strike on February 14, 2022, after the government allegedly failed to comply with some of its demands. On August 26, 2022, the union declared a complete and indefinite strike.