The Minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the obstruction of vehicular movement on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway by university students is a violation of the law.
Fashola said this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14 over its demand for improved funding for universities, and a review of salaries of lecturers, among other issues.
On Tuesday, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) besieged the road over the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
The protest was led by the Chairman of NANS in Ogun, Damilola Simeon, they gathered at the Redeemed Church axis, blocking both sides of the highway, which soon later resulted in gridlock.
The demonstration prevented free movement inward and outward in Lagos and also disrupted traffic flow from the Sagamu Interchange to the Makun City area.
Speaking on the development, the minister said the Nigerian constitution recognizes citizens’ right to public protests but does not empower any Nigerian to “inflict pain and inconvenience on other people”.
“Once again, I apologize and empathize with commuters who need that place to get on with their lives. It’s the place we left to the last really because it’s the most built-up area — the last six kilometers into Lagos, very densely populated and occupied.
There’s very little room for alternative routes for people. So, you just have to bear with us,” he said.
“I also heard that some aggrieved students under the aegis of NANS are going to the road to protest. My respectful view is that it is not helpful at all to the citizens.
“The right to protest is a very well-protected right in our constitution, but it does not include the right to inflict pain and inconvenience on other people.
“And so, whilst the protests can go on, they should refrain from blocking the road in order to do their protests. That in itself is a violation of the law.”
