The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has set a target of mobilising at least 10 million Nigerian students to participate in the 2027 general elections.

The association also constituted a National Election Mobilisation Committee to coordinate voter sensitisation, mobilisation and monitoring of students’ participation in election-related activities across the country.

The move comes as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled to hold the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 20, 2027, and the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on March 6, 2027.

In a statement signed by its National President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, NANS described students as a significant constituency in Nigeria’s democratic process, claiming a membership base of more than 40.1 million students.

The association said the size of the student population meant that students could not afford to remain indifferent to the electoral process, particularly because government policies and decisions directly affect them.

NANS said, “As the apex student representative body with over 40.1 million Nigerian students as members, we constitute a significant voting bloc in the country.”

It added: “It is noteworthy that we are major stakeholders in nation-building, as students constitute a significant segment of the country’s population and are directly affected by government policies and decisions. Hence, we cannot afford to toe the path of apathy or remain indifferent to the democratic process.”

According to the association, the mobilisation drive is aimed at promoting informed and responsible participation rather than political apathy among students.

“As a body of intellectuals and future leaders, we strongly believe that one of the most important ways citizens can contribute to the democratic process is through informed and active participation in elections.

“Therefore, our firm resolve is to encourage Nigerian students to participate actively and responsibly in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections,” NANS said.

The association said the newly constituted National Election Mobilisation Committee would coordinate sensitisation, mobilisation and monitoring of students’ participation and election-related activities across the six geopolitical zones.

Under the structure, the NANS President will serve as Director-General, while the NANS Senate President will serve as Deputy Director.

Olusola Oladoja was appointed National Coordinator, Gambo Abubakar as National Deputy Coordinator, and Charles Obina Ebube as National Public Relations Officer.

Agbabiaka Ahmed was named Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the South, while Ibrahim G. Ibrahim Babalolo will chair the Northern Advisory Committee.

The committee has also been decentralised across the six geopolitical zones, with representatives appointed in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The North-West structure covers Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa states, while the North-East structure covers Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Adamawa and Bauchi states.

The North-Central structure includes Kwara, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, the FCT, Kogi and Niger states.

In the South-West, the committee covers Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ekiti and Ondo states, while Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states make up the South-South zone.

The South-East structure covers Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states.

NANS said the committee would commence “immediate sensitisation, mobilisation and monitoring” of students across campuses and institutions.

It directed the committee to coordinate its activities with existing NANS structures, student unions and other stakeholders in the various zones.

The association said its central objective was to translate the large student population into active participation in the electoral process, setting a target of 10 million students for the 2027 elections.

“Our target is to facilitate the participation of at least 10 million Nigerian students in the 2027 General Elections,” the statement said.

NANS also directed political support groups and election-related organisations seeking to engage students during the electoral period to liaise with the newly constituted committee.

“On a final note, all political support groups and election-related organisations seeking to organise any political or election-related activities, sensitisation, mobilisation or engagements involving Nigerian students are expected to liaise with the NANS National Election Mobilisation Committee for proper coordination, notification and monitoring before organising any such activities,” the association said.

The statement did not indicate that the committee would endorse or support any particular political party or candidate.

Afeez charged members of the committee to approach their assignments with commitment and efficiency, expressing confidence in their ability to deliver on the mandate.

“I have full confidence in each of you to deliver effectively in these responsibilities. I warmly congratulate you all, and as we move forward, I charge you to remain efficient, committed and dedicated to the responsibilities entrusted to you,” he said.

Rivers State Government has embarked on a free medical services for flood victims across the State.

The State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Odu, disclosed this when she played host to a delegation from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.

The deputy governor who highlighted the integration of the Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme into the flood response, said the flood-affected persons would receive free medical care.

?She explained that beneficiaries would be registered and referred to nearby health facilities, while cases requiring specialist attention would be referred to higher-level hospitals, with the cost covered under the health insurance intervention.

?According to her, the health coverage is expected to run for at least one year, with eligible beneficiaries continuing to receive support thereafter.

Odu added that aside relief materials which the State was providing for flood victims, the State Government was intensifying relief efforts for flood victims across the State, with priority given to the worst-affected communities.

?She noted that the recent floods had affected communities across the State, stressing that the disaster had no regard for political affiliation, social status or ethnicity.

?According to her, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, upon returning from the United Nations General Assembly in New York and learning of the worsening flood situation, directed the State Flood Prevention and Management Committee to immediately step up interventions in affected areas.

?She said the State Government had so far deployed trucks loaded with food and non-food items to several local government areas, adding that communities severely affected by the floods were receiving additional relief materials.

?Odu also disclosed that the governor had also directed the provision of stipends to some flood victims, in addition to food and other relief items.

She commended NEMA and its Rivers State team for their prompt response to the State’s appeal, noting that the agency responded within hours of receiving the distress signal.

She said that the government’s response was focused not only on immediate relief, food and healthcare, but also on addressing the underlying causes of flooding through the clearing of blocked waterways, improving drainage and preventing obstructions.

?The deputy governor stressed the importance of collaboration among the Federal, State and Local Governments, as well as agencies such as NEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross, in tackling the flood emergency.

?She noted that “flood does not know party affiliations,” adding that the government would continue to ensure that no affected resident was left behind.

?Odu further commended the NEMA Head of Operations in Rivers State and his team for their seamless collaboration with the State Government in responding to the flood emergency.

?On his part, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar, who was represented by the Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, said the agency was in Rivers State to sympathise with the State Government and people affected by the disaster.

?Usman said NEMA had commenced an assessment of some flood-affected communities and areas in collaboration with the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency (RSEMA) and other stakeholders.

?He assured that NEMA would reinforce the capacity of RSEMA and other agencies involved in the response operation, adding that he would remain in the State for some time to supervise the intervention.

?Usman added that NEMA was also in Rivers State to provide relief materials to communities affected by the flooding.

?He assured that the Federal Government, through NEMA, would continue to collaborate with the Rivers State Government and RSEMA to ensure timely response and intervention in flood emergencies.

By: Kevin Nengia

Thousands of retired civil servants and other Nigerians living at the Rivers state Housing Estate, Igbo Etche have been trapped by flood which ravaged the area.

Our correspondent who visited the estate reported that all business actions include schools have been suspended as people can neither come in nor go out from the estate.

Chairman of the Estate Landlord Association, Mr Oputuboye  Braide, told The Tide that all activities were at standstill in the area as nobody comes in or go out.

According to Braide, the whole estate has been taken over by flood as children can no longer go to schools and workers go to work.

“We cannot access our buildings, our homes, cars, are inside trapped.”

He also raised the alarm over the presence of reptiles and other dangerous animals, stressing that the lives of residents of the area are presently in danger.

“Everywhere, you see reptiles coming out, attacking people. Some cars are even submerged inside water,” he said.

The chairman further said if nothing urgently is done about it, the estate may experience an epidemic as all the septic tanks have been burst, making the area unhealthy for human habitation.

He said the community needs canoes to ferry people out of the area.

Braide also stressed the need for the government to construct a drainage in the area, stressing that efforts have been made to reach out to the State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Housing to no avail.

Also speaking, a retired staff of the Rivers state Newspaper Corporation, Pastor Soye Itiye, said the intervention of the government is urgently needed to avoid an epidemic.

Itiye said the flood has impacted negatively on the lives of the people, stressing that the health of residents of the area is at risk.

He also urged for a drainage to evacuate water out of the area.

John Bibor