ASUU strike: FG declares students’ blockage of Lagos-Ibadan road illegal

 

The Federal Government has said students took the laws into their hands by blocking the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

In protest of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) blocked the road on Tuesday.

They gathered at the Redeemed Church axis and blocked both sides of the road under the leadership of Damilola Simeon, Chairman of NANS in Ogun.

The protest impeded free travel into and out of Lagos and hampered the flow of traffic from the Sagamu Interchange to the Makun City region.

On Wednesday in Abuja, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola faulted the action.

Fashola addressed State House reporters after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the constitution protects citizens’ right to public protests but does not empower anyone to inflict pain and inconvenience on others.

The minister apologized to commuters affected by the protest which he stated was “not helpful at all to the citizens”.

“Whilst the protests can go on, they (students) should refrain from blocking the road in order to do their protests. That in itself is a violation of law,” he said.

However, Fashola explained that the road delay was because it is the most built-up area.

“It is the last six kilometres into Lagos; very densely populated and occupied. There’s very little room for alternative routes for people. You just have to bear with us”, he appealed.