Port Harcourt, March 10, 2026, Hundreds of youths from Ogoniland on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt over the alleged failure of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to release funds for the running of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni (FUET), Rivers.
The protesters, under the aegis of the Ogoni Youths Development Initiative (OYDI), marched through major streets in the Rivers State capital, calling for the immediate release of funds to enable the institution to operate effectively.
Speaking during the protest, the Global President of OYDI, Mr Imeabe Saviour, alleged that the NNPCL had failed to comply with a directive by President Bola Tinubu to fund the university.
Saviour said that the continued delay in releasing funds had left students without access to essential facilities such as lecture halls, laboratories and hostels.
He also stated that contractors handling projects at the institution were yet to receive payment despite commencing work on the projects.
“As we speak, no funds have been released to the university as directed by the President. Students do not have access to lecture halls, laboratories or hostel facilities,” he said.
He added that several contractors who had taken loans to execute projects at the university were currently stranded due to non-payment.
According to him, the establishment of the university was part of confidence-building measures by the Federal Government following discussions on the proposed resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.
Saviour described the situation as unfair to the Ogoni people and called on the Federal Government to demonstrate commitment to the development of the area.
He noted that the protest was intended as a warning, adding that the group would intensify its actions if the issue was not addressed.
“If our demands are not met, we will escalate the protest and take it to the NNPC headquarters in Abuja,” he said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has not responded to requests made by Ogoni youths.
