“WE WILL NOT BE SILENT”: NANS OGUN AXIS DECLARES PROTEST, ORDERS BOYCOTT OF MTN & DSTV OVER XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State Joint Campus Committee (JCC), has issued a fiery and uncompromising warning over the renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, declaring that Nigerian students will no longer sit idle while their compatriots are brutalized, humiliated, and hunted.

In a strongly worded and protest-driven statement, NANS Ogun JCC described the attacks as “barbaric, disgraceful, and a direct assault on the dignity of Nigerians,” vowing to mobilize students across the state for mass action to stop if the violence does not stop immediately.

The association announced its readiness to stage coordinated protests and has directed Nigerian students to begin an immediate boycott of major South African-owned businesses, including MTN and DSTV, as a clear message against what it called “systematic hostility and dangerous silence.”

“This is no longer a time for polite diplomacy. Nigerians are being attacked, their businesses destroyed, their lives threatened—and we are expected to remain calm? No. Not anymore,” the statement declared.

NANS Ogun Axis blasted what it described as a shameful double standard, pointing out that while South African companies continue to rake in massive profits in Nigeria under peaceful and protected conditions, Nigerians in South Africa are subjected to relentless violence and discrimination.

“It is an insult of the highest order. Nigerians have shown tolerance, hospitality, and brotherhood. What we receive in return is hatred and bloodshed. This hypocrisy will be resisted,” the statement read.

The student body made it clear that Nigerians are not second-class citizens on the African continent and will not continue to be treated as expendable victims.

Raising alarm over the safety of Nigerian students and youths abroad, NANS warned that the continued attacks pose a serious threat to their lives, dreams, and future, stressing that no Nigerian should have to live in fear for simply seeking better opportunities.

While reaffirming its belief in African unity, the association insisted that unity without justice is meaningless. It condemned xenophobia in its entirety but emphasized that the continuous targeting of Nigerians in South Africa must be confronted with decisive action—not empty rhetoric.

NANS Ogun JCC issued a direct and uncompromising demand to the South African government and its security agencies to immediately clamp down on perpetrators, protect Nigerians and other African nationals, and bring those responsible to swift justice. It warned that failure to act would be seen as deliberate negligence or silent endorsement.

The association also took a swipe at South African businesses operating in Nigeria, accusing them of benefiting from Nigerian goodwill while remaining mute in the face of injustice against Nigerians in their home country.

“You cannot continue to profit from Nigeria and remain silent while Nigerians are being attacked. That silence is loud, and it is unacceptable,” the statement added.

NANS Ogun Axis warned that the planned boycott and protests are only the beginning of a broader, lawful, and democratic resistance if urgent steps are not taken.

“Let it be clear—we are not begging for respect, we are demanding it. If our people are not safe, then business as usual cannot continue. Enough is enough.”

The association concluded with a strong message: African brotherhood cannot survive on one-sided tolerance, and respect must be mutual, enforced, and non-negotiable.

Signed:
Comrade Olabode Farouq Success
Chairman,
NANS JCC Ogun Axis.

Concerned Uniry Schools Alumni Storm Lagos, Abuja, Kano Over ‘Secret’ Land Swap Deal

LAGOS, NIGERIA – A nationwide confrontation is brewing as members of several old students of Unity School known as Federal Government Coleges move from quiet concern to open resistance over what they describe as a “secretive” land swap deal threatening the assets of Nigeria’s Federal Unity Colleges.

On Saturday, May 9, over 4,000 alumni are expected to flood the streets of Lagos, Abuja, and Kano in a coordinated awareness walk, branded under the rallying call “Pro Unitate – Better Together.” The protest targets a controversial Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement at Federal Government College (FGC) Kano, which proposes swapping approximately 30 hectares of school land for N8.5 billion in infrastructure upgrades . According to sources, this is said to be one of 18 such PPP concessions already entered into by the FME without any consultation with the alumni of these schools.”

The deal, approved by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and awarded to Pluck Global Construction Company, would see the developer renovate classrooms, build hostels, and construct a health centre in exchange for prime land bordering the 53-year-old institution, land alumni estimate is worth over N36 billion .

For many within Alumnus of these schools, the issue goes beyond property, it strikes at the very soul of a system designed to unite a diverse nation. But the fiercest opposition comes directly from Kano, where the deal has ignited a firestorm.

“This is not just about land or infrastructure. It is about preserving a national idea,” said Shoyinka Shodunke, Global President of the FGC Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA). Speaking to journalists ahead of the protest, Shodunke did not mince words regarding the government’s decision to exclude stakeholders.

“Unity Schools were established as symbols of excellence, integration, and nation-building. Any action that diminishes their integrity reflects a troubling disregard for the power of education as a driver of national progress,” Shodunke stated .

He described the proposed PPP project as a fundamental threat to the institution’s legacy, warning that the introduction of a mixed-use residential and commercial estate sharing boundaries with the school exposes students to avoidable risks.

“The land identified for this project is meant for learning, not for a residential or commercial estate. Introducing a mixed-use development adjacent to the school erodes the controlled environment required for effective learning,” Shodunke added .

In a detailed petition to President Bola Tinubu, which has now garnered thousands of signatures across all Unity Schools, the alumni argue that the process lacked transparency. They noted that they were never consulted, despite having collectively invested billions of naira in the college over the years without taking a single plot of land in return .

Shodunke further revealed that the association has already established a dedicated foundation and plans to launch a N5 billion development fund in June 2026, insisting that credible, mission-aligned funding alternatives exist without compromising the school’s integrity .

As the May 9 walks in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano draw near, the Federal Ministry of Education has yet to issue an official response to the petitions. However, the developers have insisted that the deal followed due process .

For Shodunke, the walk is a final warning. “We will not relent in pursuing all lawful and legal avenues to overturn this illegal arrangement,” he declared . Alumni warn that any attempt to proceed with the land swap while legal challenges and protests are pending will be met with massive civil resistance.

Over 4,000 Old student of Federal Government Colleges Sign Petition Against FGC Kano Land Swap Deal rejected by Alumni Nationwide

In a powerful display of unity, more than 4,000 old students of Federal Government Colleges have appended their signatures to a formal petition rejecting a controversial land swap deal at the Federal Government College (FGC) Kano, setting the stage for a coordinated awareness walk across three Nigerian cities.

The petition, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Education, has become the rallying point for alumni from all 104 Federal Unity Colleges, who are demanding an immediate halt to what they describe as an “opaque and dangerous” public-private partnership arrangement.

According to documents obtained by our correspondent, the proposed deal would swap approximately 30 hectares of FGC Kano’s land—valued by alumni at over N36 billion—for N8.5 billion in infrastructure upgrades, including classrooms, hostels, and a health centre.

The petition, which has now crossed the 4,000-signature threshold, accuses the government of failing to carry out due diligence or consult key stakeholders before approving the agreement with Pluck Global Construction Company.

“These signatures represent the collective voice of thousands of Nigerians who believe that our Unity Schools are not bargaining chips,” said Shoyinka Shodunke, Global President of the FGC Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA). “We have invested our hearts, our resources, and our futures into these institutions. To see even an inch of our land swapped without our consent is an affront to everything we stand for.”

Shodunke, speaking exclusively to our reporter, revealed that alumni have already established a foundation and plan to launch a N5 billion development fund in June 2026 as a credible alternative to the government’s proposal.

“We are not just opposing; we are offering solutions,” he said. “But the government must first respect our voice. Over 4,000 signatures is not a small number. It is a movement.”

The petition details several grievances: lack of transparency in the bidding process, failure to consult the school’s board of governors or alumni associations, and the potential security risks of introducing a mixed-use commercial and residential estate adjacent to a secondary school.

Armed with the petition, alumni have concluded plans to embark on an awareness walk on Saturday, May 9, in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. Organisers expect thousands to turn out in each city, carrying copies of the petition and demanding an audience with government officials.

In Lagos, protesters will gather at the Eko Atlantic city before marching to the Muri Okunola Park VI. In Abuja, the walk will culminate at the Eagle Square , where the petition will be formally submitted. In Kano, alumni will assemble near the school premises before heading to the Korota Park/Jubilee Line.

“The walk is not a riot. It is an appeal,” Shodunke clarified. “But it is also a warning. We have the signatures. We have the people. And we will not be ignored.”

As of press time, the Federal Ministry of Education had not issued an official response to the petition. However, a source within the ministry confirmed that officials are aware of the growing opposition and the planned protests.

Alumni leaders remain undeterred. With over 4,000 signatures already secured and days still to go before the May 16 walk, they expect the number to swell further.

“Every new signature is another voice saying: ‘Not our land. Not our legacy,’” Shodunke said. “We will walk until that message is heard.”