Today, students at UNILAG protest the fee increase.

The National Association of Nigerian Students have been urged by the Lagos State Police Command to tell them of their plans for a protest at the University of Lagos today, September 6, 2023.

As a universally recognized human right, NANS had cautioned the Department of State Services not to obstruct students from expressing their freedom to protest.

Giwa Temitope, the union’s national public relations officer, claimed that the DSS’s claim on Monday that some politicians were enlisting student leaders for a violent protest against the Federal Government over socioeconomic issues was false propaganda and that the protest would proceed as scheduled.

Student Solidarity Group Against Fee Hike, a group, announced this week that it would stage a demonstration against the fee increase at the University of Lagos on September 6, 2023.

One of the leaders of the group, Femi Adeyeye, told The Press on Tuesday that the protests would go on planned. “We’re all set, students are ready,” Adeyeye said.

In support of the action, the NANS PRO stated in a statement issued to our correspondent on Tuesday that the student body would swarm UNILAG for the demonstration and implore the DSS not to violate students’ rights.

Giwa stated, “It is extremely embarrassing that the DSS has lost its way and turned into the propaganda arm of the Federal Government, raising false alarms and even meddling in matters that have absolutely nothing to do with their line of work.

“As a group, we maintain that we are not happy with the way Nigerian society is being handled, particularly with regard to the arbitrary fee increases that have been implemented across our educational institutions.

Therefore, students are urged to turn out in large numbers and join the demonstration calling for the immediate cancellation of fees at the University of Lagos.

In July 2023, UNILAG management raised fees, claiming “prevailing economic realities” as justification.

However, when contacted, Benjamin Hundeyin, the state police public relations officer, stated that the right to protest is an essential human right and that the command is merely asking the students to notify the police so that steps can be taken.

The PPRO said, “The police do not give permission to protesters. It’s their inalienable right. They are only advised to inform the police so that adequate measures can be put in place.”