The Federal Government has promised to
pay all burial expenses of the five executive
members of the National Association of
Nigerian Students,NANS, who died in an
auto crash last week.

The NANS Executives met their death
around Ikwuano council Area of Abia state
while they were on their way to Uyo, Akwa
Ibom state capital to intervene in the
student’s struggles against the school
authority over transportation hike.

However, the Education Minister, Prof.
Ruqayatu Ahmed Rufai had made a promise
in Umuahia yesterday when she visited the
injured students who are still on admission
at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia that
the Federal Government will pay the
deceased families any amount expended on
the burial.

The minister also said that the Federal
Government would take care of the medical
expenses of the students that survived the
fatal crash.
Meanwhile, sources from
the hospital disclosed
that the centre needs
eight million naira (N8m) to buy a ventilator
for one of the crash victims who is on life
support machine at the hospital.

The Minister and his team, including the
Executive Secretary of the National
Univerities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie
were conducted round the wards to have
on the spot assessment of the health
conditions of the students on admission at
the hospital.

Conducting the theme round the hospital,
the chairman of the hospital medical
advisory, Dr. Uche Nwamuo explained to the
Minister and her team that the patient on
life support was recuperating well, but
disclosed that they were only three in the
hospital.

In her reaction, the Minister who
appreciated the hospital management for
its spirited efforts and care shown to the
injured students declared that federal
government has resolved to pay the
students hospital bill and to take charge of
their general welfare while in the hospital.
Her words: “The Federal government is
ready to take charge of the medical bills of
the students that died and pray for those in
hospital to be part of us someday as
government has also decided to take their
bills and any other matters arising from the
unfortunate accident”.