One Year in Office, Andra Soni Meets Students Protesting Outside Banten Provincial Government

Banten Governor Andra Soni completed exactly one year in office on Friday, marking the occasion by meeting university students who had gathered to demonstrate outside the provincial government headquarters.

The Alliance of Student Executive Bodies (BEM) across Banten Province staged a protest in front of the Banten Provincial Government Centre (KP3B) in Serang on Friday (20/2/2026). The students delivered speeches and conveyed their aspirations regarding various issues facing the province.

One of the orators noted that development in Banten has been uneven. According to them, southern areas such as Lebak and Pandeglang lag far behind other regions, particularly the Greater Tangerang area.

The students also raised concerns about illegal labour brokers and the problem of overloaded lorries (ODOL) that have claimed lives.

Accompanied by Banten Police Chief Inspector General Hengki, Andra went out to meet the protesters. He sat down and listened to the students’ grievances.

Andra expressed his gratitude that the students had reflected on the shortcomings of his leadership over the past year.

“Today I actually feel happy. The reflection on my first year is being celebrated, conveyed by my people, my students. That is what I feel,” Andra said.

Andra said he preferred discussing and hearing students’ aspirations “on the street” rather than in formal meeting rooms. Nevertheless, he noted that he had received several invitations for formal meetings with student groups.

“So forgive me, friends. It is not that I do not want to engage. If you meet me formally, you would not be able to be as critical as you are now. I was once a student, I was once an activist. What you must do is exactly what you did just now. No hard feelings — ‘whether the Governor is offended or whether the Governor dislikes it, I as a student must speak up because it is my right,’” Andra said.

“What you have conveyed is a vitamin for me heading into the next year,” he added.

Regarding the issues raised, Andra pledged to follow up on the matters. On the subject of damaged roads, he explained that the provincial government had been building roads that technically fall under the authority of district, municipal, or village governments.

“Damaged roads — Lebak and Pandeglang are the two areas with the lowest fiscal capacity. Today, Pandeglang cannot spend a single rupiah on road construction. The province is trying to participate in building village roads that are actually not the province’s responsibility but the regent’s. Yet it is the people of Banten who benefit,” Andra said.