The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage a major protest within the next 72 hours, in response to the alleged fraudulent diversion of grains by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The protest is aimed at drawing attention to the reported misappropriation of 42,000 metric tons of food grains intended for Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable populations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NANS Deputy Senate President, Huzaifa Sabo Usman, revealed that the association had submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to NEMA on August 14, 2024, titled “Alleged Diversion of 42,000 Metric Tons of Grains.”
Despite their efforts, NANS claims that they have not received a satisfactory explanation regarding the whereabouts of the food supplies, which, according to investigative reports and confirmations from several state governors, never reached the intended recipients.
Usman highlighted that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had, through an official letter dated June 27, 2024, confirmed that the 42,000 metric tons of assorted food grains were released to NEMA as directed by the President.
However, evidence suggests that NEMA staff, in collaboration with corrupt state government officials, diverted these grains for personal gain, depriving countless Nigerians of essential food supplies.
“The scale of this diversion suggests a deep-seated corruption involving NEMA’s Director General and her management team,” Usman stated, comparing the scandal to previous instances of mismanagement that have sparked significant civil unrest in the country, including the nationwide End Bad Governance protests.
In light of these serious allegations, NANS is demanding an immediate and transparent accounting of how the 42,000 metric tons of food grains were distributed. The association has given NEMA a 72-hour ultimatum to provide a satisfactory response. Should NEMA fail to do so, NANS plans to mobilize a massive protest at the agency’s headquarters to hold those responsible accountable.
NANS is calling on students and the general public to support their cause and join in the fight for justice and transparency.