Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on major Nigerian students’ bodies to suspend their planned nationwide protest against the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, warning that the action could play into political schemes aimed at undermining the Federal Government.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation appealed to the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), the National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), and the National Association of Nigerian University Students (NAUS) to shelve the February 4 protest and instead pursue constructive engagement with relevant authorities.
In a statement released on Friday and signed by the factional Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, alongside the group’s National Spokesperson, Chinyereze Ohia, the organisation cautioned student leaders against being used as political tools by opponents of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Ohanaeze said it was concerned that the planned protest was being framed around claims of poor road infrastructure, which it described as misleading and lacking proper context. According to the group, several of the roads cited are currently under active construction as part of the government’s ongoing infrastructure renewal programme.
The organisation pointed to the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, describing it as a critical route for both the South-East and the wider country, and noted that the project is progressing steadily, with completion expected by April 2026, as confirmed by the Minister of Works.
It also highlighted the East–West Expressway, which it said had been abandoned for nearly eight years before President Tinubu’s administration prioritised its revival under Umahi’s supervision. Ohanaeze noted that the minister is personally overseeing the project to ensure sustained progress.
Similarly, the Abuja–Lokoja–Okene Expressway remains a major focus of the Ministry of Works, with intensified efforts underway to guarantee timely delivery and improved quality, the statement said.
Ohanaeze urged the student groups to reflect on the original ideals of “Aluta” activism, stressing that meaningful dialogue, rather than what it described as sponsored protests, remains the most effective path to national development.
The organisation concluded by calling on student leaders to protect the integrity of their movements and channel their energy into engagements that promote unity, accountability and sustainable growth.
