Ogoni Youths Protest NNPCL's Neglect of Environmental University

On Monday, youths from Ogoni and the South South region staged a protest in Port Harcourt, expressing their dissatisfaction with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for neglecting the Federal University of Environmental Technology (FUET) in Saakpenwa, Rivers State. The protest was organized by the Ogoni Youth Development Initiative, led by Imeab Saviour, who accused NNPCL of ignoring a presidential directive from Bola Tinubu to provide financial support for the university.

The institution, established on February 3, 2025, has faced critical infrastructural challenges due to a lack of funding, leading to shortages in hostel accommodations and lecture halls. Students have been left stranded as contractors, who took loans to execute projects, have not received payments from NNPCL.

The protestors displayed placards demanding urgent action and warned of escalating protests if their demands were not addressed. Mfon Ati, head of corporate services at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, advised the group to maintain peace while awaiting a response from NNPCL.