By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA—Students led by National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, yesterday shut Lokoja,  Kogi State capital, protesting the industrial action by lecturers of the State University since May.

NANS protesting in Kogi State against the continued closure of the Kogi State University, on Thursday, July 14, 2016

The students as early as 8 am took over the Ganaja junction; which is the only converging point for motorists from the northern or southern part of the country shutting out vehicular movement and leaving motorists stranded.

Vehicle owners abandoned their vehicles and trekked the remaining distances to their work places and other destinations.

The students accused the government of playing with their future by not meeting the demands of the lecturers and threatened to continue the protest for the next seven days.

However, the government claimed it had met 80 percent of the lecturers’ demands.

Government officials led by the SSG, who attempted to pacify the aggrieved students hurriedly turned back to avoid unpleasant situation as the students insisted they were only ready to listen to the governor Yahaya Bello.

The protest did not only cripple business activities while it lasted, it equally caused unprecedented traffic logjam as trapped motorists waited for more than 10 hours to pass through.

NANS had two weeks ago issued an ultimatum to the state government to settle with the lecturers, threatening to occupy’ the state.