Ogoni Youth Demand 500 Jobs Amid Oil Resumption Tensions

A controversy has emerged among stakeholders in Ogoniland, Rivers State, regarding the planned resumption of oil exploration. KAGOTE, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ogoni people, and the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) exchanged statements questioning the credibility and transparency of the process.

The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) announced plans for a national congress to address disagreements over the oil resumption and demanded 500 direct employment opportunities from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), instead of the 40 slots reportedly allocated. KAGOTE, led by President Chief Lesi Maol, expressed support for the Federal Government and the ODC but called for greater transparency regarding the ODC’s harmonisation committee and employment opportunities.

They sought clarification on the committee's composition and the criteria for selecting beneficiaries. KAGOTE acknowledged the NNPCL's reliance on a database for job selection but called for verification of the number of positions and selection criteria.

The OYF's congress aims to address these employment concerns.