Poly students protest diversion of N20 billion CTIN intervention fund

Polytechnic students in Nigeria, under the aegis of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), have protested against the alleged diversion of N20 billion Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) intervention fund.

The students, who besieged the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, as well as the Ministry of Trade and Investment, yesterday, with protest letters, placards and banners, expressed disappointment over what they called ‘zero impact’ of the institute.

The protesters, led by the association’s President, Muniru Opeyemi, said that technical students from polytechnics should have been the biggest beneficiaries of the initiative.

A petition letter, titled “Petition on allegation of Diversion of 20BN Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) Intervention Fund,” reads in part: “It is on this note we are calling on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission to, as a matter of urgency, commence probe of the Cement Technology Institution of Nigeria under the leadership of Aliko Dangote.

“The Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has undoubted demonstrated commitment to transform education, improve well-being of Nigerian students, members of staff and infrastructure in education sector to make life easier for all citizens.

“Our findings have revealed the inimical acts of some corporate bodies that are certainly owing Nigeria’s technological students and by extension, Nigerian youths, a whopping sum of N20 billion, a cement importation levies primarily meant for technical training and development of opportunities for young Nigerians in cement industry according to the CTIN establishment goal.”

According to him, in the alleged misuse of the funds, intended to provide training and development opportunities for Nigerian youths in the cement industry in line with the establishment goals of CTIN, “information at disposal revealed that the funds have been squandered, leaving a trail of broken promises and shattered dreams.”

Opeyemi, therefore, urged the anti-graft agency to investigate the matter.