The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has received praise from the National Association of Nigerian Students for releasing palliatives to ease the suffering of the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
The group also urged the state government to give attention to the welfare of its students.
The NANS Joint Campus Committee’s chairman, Damilola Kehinde, and the chapter’s public relations officer, Olufemi Owoeye, jointly signed a statement on behalf of the student body to that effect.
Speaking in the statement, the body decried the challenges caused by the naira redesign policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria Naira as well as the scarcity of fuel.
“It is no news that the country is going through a rough patch right now and Nigerians more than ever need not just a sympathetic but also an empathetic government.
“It is therefore heartwarming that Ogun State Government has shown itself to be apparently in touch with the current realities of its constituents and have thus taken the bull by the horn by providing a much needed succour via free food items distribution.”
Speaking further, the association stated that students were going through “horrendous times” due to the crises caused by the ongoing cash scarcity.
NANS cited cases of students who served as Point of Service Operators who had their businesses grounded due to the unavailability of cash.
“We must remember that a sizeable number of POS business owners are students and have been largely out of business due to unavailability of cash.
“In addition, students who engage in other forms of business are experiencing abysmal patronage due to the aforementioned cause.
“It is therefore non-negotiable that students be duly catered for in this programme to ensure that all forms of temptations are staved off most especially during this electioneering period that malevolent politicians are looking to sponsor unrests before and during the polls,” NANS said.
The association also noted that its leadership of in Ogun State would be on the lookout, “and will not hesitate to publish names of transgressors who may seek to undermine the government’s efforts by turning this worthy initiative to an avenue for personal enrichment.”