The Democratic Front (TDF) has hailed the approval of the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoniland, describing it as a significant statement of intent by the Federal Government to address long-standing grievances within the region. In a statement issued on Sunday, Malam Danjuma Muhammad, Chairman of the TDF, emphasized that the new university would stand as a reminder of efforts to tackle the severe environmental issues that have plagued Ogoniland for decades. The move is seen as a step towards healing the deep-rooted wounds caused by environmental degradation and neglect in the region.

The TDF recalled the tragic history of the Ogoni people, who have endured years of environmental pollution from oil spills and the activities of oil prospecting companies. This neglect, the group said, led to an escalating ethno-political crisis that has persisted since the 1995 execution of the late Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other leaders of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP). The approval of the university, according to TDF, represents an effort by the government to address these longstanding issues and create a lasting solution to the environmental challenges of the region.

In its statement, the group commended President Bola Tinubu for his decision to institutionalize a permanent solution by engaging with key Ogoni stakeholders. TDF praised the President’s historical understanding and his thoughtful approach to the region’s complex challenges. “We commend President Tinubu for the wisdom in institutionalizing a permanent solution through meeting key Ogoni stakeholders,” the group said, highlighting the significance of the university as a symbolic monument to the painful history of environmental destruction.

Furthermore, the TDF called on the people of Ogoniland and other oil-producing communities across the country to embrace this development as an opportunity to pursue academic excellence, particularly in fields related to environmental protection. The group emphasized that the university would not only help address past injustices but also contribute to a future focused on sustainability and environmental stewardship. The approval, they added, underscores the commitment of the Tinubu administration to pursuing environmentally friendly policies that safeguard the future of Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.